chalicist

C3H4A1L1I1C3I1S1T1
/ˈtʃælɪsɪst/

noun

A layperson authorized to assist the clergy, particularly within the Episcopal or Anglican Church, in administering the Christian sacrament of Holy Communion during worship services. Specifically, chalicists offer the consecrated wine to communicants following its consecration by the celebrant.

Scrabble 16

Meanings

nounchalicist (plural chalicists)

plural chalicists

  1. A layperson authorized to assist the clergy, particularly within the Episcopal or Anglican Church, in administering the Christian sacrament of Holy Communion during worship services. Specifically, chalicists offer the consecrated wine to communicants following its consecration by the celebrant.

    A lay minister, or chaliccist, who assists eith the distribution of communion.

    1999, Arthur J. Magida, Stuart M. Matlins, editors, How to be a Perfect Stranger: A Guide to Etiquette in Other People's Religious Ceremonies, Wood Lake Publishing Inc., page 122
    2 more examples

    Often colloquially called chalice bearers or chalicists, these are now designated by canon as Eucharistic Ministers.

    2012, Beth Wickenberg Ely, The Cup of Salvation: A Manual for lay Eucharistic Ministries, illustrated edition, Church Publishing, Inc., page xi

    The church also includes many lay positions in worship, such as acolytes, vergers, chalicists, lectors, and a congregational choir.

    2025 January 1, Wikipedia contributors, “Church of the Good Shepherd (Raleigh, North Carolina)”, in English Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation

Origin

Cite this entry
APA

chalicist. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/chalicist

MLA

“chalicist.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/chalicist. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “chalicist,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/chalicist.

Source: chalicist on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.