A credence table or credence-table was originally a type of small table used for storing food before serving; generally a semi-circular table with a hinged top. Oak and walnut were popular woods for credence tables.
In their earliest days they were where the food-taster would check for poison because after he had done his tasting the food was always within sight of the diners.
Nowadays credence table is more commonly used to refer to the table(s) at the front of the sanctuary upon which communion ware, offering plates, or other worship service items are placed; the table or ledge on which the bread, wine, etc., are placed before being consecrated in the Eucharist.
In German, Kredenz is a kind of sideboard in the dining room, so I guess it stems from the same form of credence table of old.
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