Cancellus

Cancellus

a word occasionally used in the meaning of pulpit. As the size of churches increased, preaching in the chancel became very difficult, and it often happened that the officiating bishop or presbyter was inaudible on account of his great distance from the people. Hence a custom was introduced of placing a suggestum, or pulpit, from which the preacher delivered the sermon, in front of the partition which divided the chancel from the nave. It was therefore called, in consequence of its position, cancellus. — Farrar, Eccl. Dict. s.v.