Pictures

This Elizabethan Hourglass from St Mary's Church, Pilton, would have been used by preachers to time their sermons during services. The 'hour' was only an approximation of sixty minutes, actually usually less than an hour. The hourglass became the principal timekeeper for the preacher and came also to represent the expectation of the length of the sermon by the congregation. The preacher would turn the hourglass at the start of the sermon and probably once again during his discourse.

In St Mary's Church, the hourglass would sit on the metal arm which still projects from the pulpit and is visible to all.

Thanks to St Mary's Church for permission to include this item.