What Is an Ambo? Meaning, History, and How to Choose One
If you've only ever heard the word "ambo" at a parish council meeting or in a church renovation plan, you're not alone. It's one of those words that everyone in the room seems to understand except you.
So here's the short version, then the longer one.
The quick answer
An ambo is the stand in a church from which the Scripture readings are proclaimed. In Catholic churches especially, it is the fixed place for the Word, just as the altar is the fixed place for the Eucharist. Many Protestant churches use a pulpit or lectern for the same job and simply don't use the word.
Where the word comes from
"Ambo" comes from the Greek ambon, usually explained as a raised place or an elevation. That's a good clue to what the first ones looked like: not a slim stand, but a raised platform with steps, so the reader could be seen and heard by everyone in the church.
A short history of the ambo
In the early church, the readings were proclaimed from a raised platform in the nave. As the great basilicas were built, these became permanent stone structures, often carved and decorated, reached by a short flight of steps. Some churches had two: one for the Epistle and one for the Gospel.
During the Middle Ages, the ambo gradually gave way to the pulpit in the Western church. Preaching moved to the pulpit, and the readings often moved to the altar itself.
Then, after the Second Vatican Council in the 1960s, the Catholic Church gave the ambo back its old importance. The liturgy places the "table of the Word" (the ambo) alongside the "table of the Eucharist" (the altar), and many parishes built or bought a new ambo to match their altar during that period of renovation. That's why the word is so common in Catholic churches today, and much rarer elsewhere.
Ambo vs. pulpit vs. lectern
These three words overlap a lot, and people use them interchangeably every Sunday. Here's the general distinction:
| Word | What it usually means | Where you'll hear it |
|---|---|---|
| Ambo | The fixed stand where the Scripture readings are proclaimed, and often the homily too | Catholic churches, and some Lutheran and Anglican churches |
| Pulpit | The raised, often enclosed stand where the sermon is preached | Most Protestant churches |
| Lectern | A reading stand with a slanted top, in a church or anywhere else | Churches, schools, courtrooms, and meeting rooms |
We have whole posts on what a pulpit is and what a lectern is, if you want to go deeper.
How the ambo is used today
In the Catholic Mass, the guidance in the General Instruction of the Roman Missal is fairly specific. The ambo is reserved for the readings, the Responsorial Psalm, and the Easter Proclamation (the Exsultet). It may also be used for the homily and for the intentions of the Universal Prayer. The same guidance says it is better for a commentator, cantor, or choir director not to use the ambo, and that the ambo should generally be stationary rather than a simple movable stand.
In practice, that's why many parishes have two stands up front: a dignified ambo for the Word, and a simpler stand for the cantor and the announcements. If you're furnishing a church, it's worth planning for both from the start. (As always, your diocese or liturgy office has the final word on what your parish needs.)
How to choose an ambo
Match it to the altar
The ambo and the altar are meant to read as a pair, so they should share a material, a stain, and a style. If your altar is solid oak with fluted columns, look for an ambo with the same details. Ordering them together means they're stained in the same batch.
Make it substantial
A wobbly folding stand doesn't suit the job. Look for something with real weight and presence, ideally solid wood or glass on a solid base. Casters are fine if the sanctuary gets rearranged for concerts or weddings, as long as the ambo looks permanent once it's in place.
Make room for the book
The Lectionary and the Book of the Gospels are large books. Check that the reading surface is big enough to hold one open, with a lip or book rest so it can't slide.
Plan the microphone
Readers change every Sunday, from teenagers to grandparents. A gooseneck mic on the ambo, and ideally a reading surface that suits most heights, will make everyone easier to hear.
Five ambo-style pieces we recommend
All of these ship free and arrive ready to use.
1. 8401 Square Column Pedestal: best traditional ambo
Square fluted columns and dentil molding on a stepped base, in solid red oak. The open pedestal form keeps the reader visible and takes up less of the sanctuary than a closed pulpit, and it has a shelf for the book and notes. It's available all-stained or in white with a stained top and base. Matching altars and tables come in the same family. Built to order in about 14 weeks. From $2,395.
2. NC2 Glass Lectern: best for a modern sanctuary
3/8 inch architectural glass on a solid oak base, with an oak book rest and your parish logo or name etched into the front at no extra charge. The top tapers from 27 inches at the back to 16 at the front, so it looks light but still holds a large book. Made to order in 4 to 6 weeks. From $2,645.
3. 8302-SS Round Column Speaker Stand: best second stand
A slim single-column stand in solid red oak with round fluted columns and dentil molding. It's made to sit beside a larger pulpit or ambo, so it's perfect for the cantor and announcements. Built to order in about 14 weeks. From $1,650.
4. 704 Proclaimer Preaching Stand: best oak and acrylic
Solid red oak with a clear acrylic front, 24 inches wide. It has the look of our Proclaimer pulpits in a much smaller footprint, and you can add an etched symbol or logo to the acrylic. Built to order in about 14 weeks. From $1,550.
5. T-40 Oak Lectern: best for a chapel or small parish
A full pedestal lectern with a solid oak front and trim, oak veneer panels, an interior shelf, and an optional cross on the front at no charge. It's a simple, dignified choice for a chapel, a small parish, or a cantor stand, at a fraction of the price of a custom piece. Ships in about 2 weeks. From $579.
Furnishing the whole sanctuary? Our guide to furnishing a church walks through every piece, from the altar to the flower stands.
Build a matching set
Start with an ambo or pulpit, pick a stain, and add the altar, chairs, and the rest from the same family. The more pieces you add, the bigger the discount.
Rather talk it through? Call us at 800-421-9678.
Leave a comment