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.
The Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature was edited by John McClintock and James Strong. It contains nearly 50,000 articles pertaining to Biblical and other religious literature, people, creeds, etc. It is a fantastic research tool for broad Christian study.
John McClintock was born October 27, 1814 in Philadelphia to Irish immigrants, John and Martha McClintock. He began as a clerk in his father's store, and then became a bookkeeper in the Methodist Book Concern in New York. Here he converted to Methodism and considered joining the ministry. McClintock entered the University of Pennsylvania in 1832 and graduated with high honors three years later. Subsequently, he was awarded a doctorate of divinity degree from the same institution in 1848.WikipediaRead More