An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church

Ewer

A pitcher for pouring water. It is typically made of silver or another precious metal, or pottery. A ewer may be used to pour water into the font before the prayer of thanksgiving over the water at baptism, or to fill basins for the washing of feet on Maundy Thursday. Images of a ewer and basin are commonly used to denote the servant ministry of the church and may therefore symbolize the diaconate.

Glossary definitions provided courtesy of Church Publishing Incorporated, New York, NY,(All Rights reserved) from “An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church, A User Friendly Reference for Episcopalians,” Don S. Armentrout and Robert Boak Slocum, editors.