SERMON

In Ecclesiastical usage. The use of the sermon or homily as a portion of the communion service is said to be of remote antiquity. This ancient custom fell into partial disuse during a great part of the middle ages. The Homilies of Elfric, archbishop of Canterbury in the 10th century, were long used in the English church; but these became antiquated j and in the year 1281, says Mr. Palmer {Orig. Liturg. vol. ii. ch. 4.), preaching seems to have been generally omitted. In that year Archbishop Peckham ordered, in his Constitutions, that four sermons should be delivered during the year. But for some time prior to the Reformation preaching was again coming more into use; and the publication of homilies by authority seems to have completely restored the ancient practice. See Homily. [s. 1118]