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Church-linen mystery, old chrism, reckoning the date of Easter

29 March 2019

Write, if you have a question that you would like answered, or any answers to the questions listed below

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Your questions: 

A NADFAS inventory in Haccombe Church, in the Shaldon Mission Community, Exeter diocese, has uncovered a corporal-sized piece of linen with a pocket in the central section of one side. This pocket is roughly the same size as a pall; so was the intention to keep the pall in it, which would keep the linen less prone to creasing, or was a priest’s wafer placed in it — or what? We should be glad to learn about its purpose.

C. L. 

Oils blessed on Maundy Thursday deteriorate over time. How would readers recommend disposing of unused oils responsibly?

S. R.
 

Why does the calendar reckoning of the date of Easter not always coincide with the ecclesiastical reckoning of the date? This year, the ecclesiastical date is 24 March, the first Sunday after the first full moon after the spring solstice, but the calendar date is 21 April.

E. B.
 

French and other European languages use words derived from pesah (Passover) for Easter. Even we use paschal lamb and other technical terms. The data of the Survey of English Dialects (1948-61) disclose that, north of a wavy line from Liverpool to Middlesbrough, Easter eggs were apparently called “Pace eggs”. Is this still common? Further, apart from scholarly usage, does the use of Pace or similar for Easter extend beyond this?

A. B. 
 

Address for answers and more questions: Out of the Question, Church Times, 3rd floor, Invicta House, 108-114 Golden Lane, London EC1Y 0TG.

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