It was the custom of the primitive church, and long afterwards, to sing
the Epistle and Gospel from two stone pulpits placed at the lower end of
the choir, from whence they could be conveniently heard by the people;
and from this reason they were termed "ambones." Of these, many examples
are remaining in the ancient basilicas, especially at San Lorenzo, San
Clemente, &c., at Rome. These pulpits were also used for chanting the
lessons of the Divine Office, and from the reader asking a blessing
before commencing with, Jubé Domine Benedicite, they were commonly
called "jubés," which name was retained when those pulpits were exalted
into a lofty gallery reaching across the choir.
It is difficult to affix the precise period when the transverse jubés,
or rood lofts, were first erected, but they must be of very great
antiquity, as that of St. Sophia at Constantinople was large enough to
enable the emperors to be crowned in it, a function which would require
space for a considerable number of persons.
The French kings always ascended the jubé of Rheims Cathedral at their
coronation; and on the accession of Charles X., as the ancient rood loft
had been demolished, a temporary one was erected for the solemnity of
his coronation.
These jubés were usually erected on a solid wall to the choir, and
pillars with open arches towards the nave; and under them there was
usually one or more altars for the parochial mass.
They were usually ascended by two staircases, either in circular
turrets[6] or carried up in the thickness of the wall, which was
generally the case in England.
Occasionally we find altars were erected in the lofts, under the foot of
the cross; such was the case at Vienne, in the Church of St. Maurice,
where the parochial altar was in the centre of the rood loft, and the
Blessed Sacrament was also reserved there Sub titulo crucis.