Cincture

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For the architectural element, see Architectural glossary.

An Anglican priest wearing a white cincture around his waist to hold his alb and stole in place.

The cincture or girdle is a liturgical accessory, and one of the vestments used by the Roman Catholic church, most Lutheran denominations, Anglicans, Methodists, and other Protestant churches. It is a long, rope-like cord with tassled ends, tied around the waist outside the alb. When worn by laypersons the color generally reflects that of the liturgical season. When worn by clergy, however, it is usually white. It symbolizes chastity and purity.

When laypeople wear an alb, the cincture is usually tied on the right. As deacons tie their stoles on the right, they often fasten the cincture on the left instead. Priests and bishops usually have the knot of their cincture in front of them; the loose ends are often passed around the stole and tucked through the waist of the cincture at each side. When the cinture is tied in the front and the ends draped on either side, it is called a Roman Knot. The cinture, usually used for altar servers is the correspond to the color of the liturgical year.

From Sir Gawain and the Green Knight: "She swiftly slipped off the cincture of her gown / Which went round her waist under the wonderful mantle" (I. 1829)

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