How many lecterns?

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One.

Oh, wait… do you mean the physical structure or “lectors”?
 
Phemie said:
We have one ambo.

For the reading of the Passion we bring in a portable lectern which we place on the other side of the sanctuary.
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This is also the case in the two parishes with which I’m most familiar.
 
We have no lectern. We have an Ambo at which the Scriptures are read.
 
At the church here there are two lecterns.
The lectern used for the reading of the Epistle(s) and the Gospel was sometimes referred to as an ambo by the previous pastor.
 
There is no requirement to have a second lectern for the Epistles, but it isn’t forbidden. The main ambo should be used for the proclamation of Scripture and preaching only, so it is preferred that the other lectern be used for announcements and by the cantor (unless he is chanting one of the readings or the Psalm, in which case the main ambo should be used).

The term “ambo” comes from an ancient Greek term for something elevated or mountain-like, and it has remained a general term throughout the centuries for any desk from which the Gospels and the Epistles were read. Technically, however, these things can be classified three ways:
A lectern is a simple, freestanding bookstand that is usually portable. These are commonly found in classrooms and public speaking venues.
It is sometimes confused with a podium, which is not a lectern but a raised structure placed underneath the lectern to elevate it and the speaker.
An ambo is elevated, usually rectangular, and approached from behind or the sides by steps. An ambo does not have side panels to enclose the speaker.
A pulpit is also elevated and surrounds the speaker with side panels like a small balcony. In historic churches, pulpits were sometimes attached to pillars and approached by several stairs.
 
We have kind of a lectern-shaped ambo in liturgical use. We have an identical piece that is hidden in the choir area and gathers dust.
 
  1. A pulpit for the liturgy of the Word. An ambo for the presider’s chair. A lectern for the commentator.
 
At the parish I most frequently attend, we have one lectern and one pulpit.
 
Finally - someone who understands what an ambo is!!!:extrahappy:

A lecturn is used for lecturing or reading, a pulpit for preaching - only an ambo is used for proclaiming. The key difference between an ambo and a pulpit is that the former is free standing (although with pillars supporting it) while the latter is attached to a pillar. Sadly, most churches only have a lectern (and sometimes a disused pulpit) - a decent ambo is hard to find. 😦
Cavaille-Coll said:
The term “ambo” comes from an ancient Greek term for something elevated or mountain-like, and it has remained a general term throughout the centuries for any desk from which the Gospels and the Epistles were read. Technically, however, these things can be classified three ways:
A lectern is a simple, freestanding bookstand that is usually portable. These are commonly found in classrooms and public speaking venues.
It is sometimes confused with a podium, which is not a lectern but a raised structure placed underneath the lectern to elevate it and the speaker.
An ambo is elevated, usually rectangular, and approached from behind or the sides by steps. An ambo does not have side panels to enclose the speaker.
A pulpit is also elevated and surrounds the speaker with side panels like a small balcony. In historic churches, pulpits were sometimes attached to pillars and approached by several stairs.
Click to expand...
 
The ambo is to be used only for the reading of the Scriptures, the Easter Proclamation, and the homily. It is not to be used for the Prayers of the Faithful, announcements, or leading of song other than the Responsorial Psalm (which is Scripture). We do not follow any of this in the three churches in our parish because there is not enough room in our sanctuaries for a lectern. This is a rather poor excuse that we should probably work on and correct.
 
We have one ambo, constructed in a style similar to the altar, which is used for proclaiming the Scriptures and leading prayers, and we also have a wooden lectern similar to what would be found at the front of a classroom on the opposite side of the sanctuary. The wooden lectern is used for announcements. The ambo is treated as the Altar of the Word, and usually reserved for liturgical uses alone. (I say “usually” because no one considers it a “liturgical abuse” when someone makes announcements at the ambo, nor is it forbidden to lead a prayer from the lectern or to lead the Responsorial Psalm from the choir area. It is simply considered preferable to make announcements or to give addresses that are not part of a liturgy at the lectern or from a microphone in the choir area.)
 
One ambo and three lecterns. One of the lecterns is in the chapel; everything else is in the sanctuary of the main church.

If expanded to include the entire parish (two churches, each of which houses a chapel, and a freestanding chapel), the total comes to three ambos and -]six/-] seven lecterns.
 
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