The terms lectern, pulpit and podium are often confused and used interchangeably in colloquial speech. However, these are distinctly different. A podium is actually a raised platform where a person stands when delivering a speech. The structure where a person places notes or speaking materials is called a lectern. A pulpit is a lectern that is designated for a special religious purpose. Sometimes people refer to a pulpit as a combination of a lectern and podium that is used by religious figures.
Pulpits are made of a variety of materials, and it typically depends on the aesthetics of the church. Stone, marble, various woods, metals and acrylic are the common materials used to make pulpits. In very formal or historic churches, pulpits can be made of marble and stone, although this is less common today because it is so expensive to make. Some pulpits even have electronic gadgets, such as microphones, monitors and teleprompters.
The placement of a pulpit depends on the type of religious worship and whether it adheres to traditional styles of worship or contemporary ones. Pulpits in traditional worship services are typically placed in the back, along with other lecterns and podiums. In contemporary worship services, pulpits can be placed in a more prominent role to emphasize the speaker and give prominence to the message.
Traditionally, pulpits were very ornate and decorated with crosses, carvings, religious symbols and Latin phrases. Many Catholic churches and cathedrals have very ornate pulpits, such as the one at Cologne Cathedral in Germany. In contemporary churches, pulpits are less ornate, because the worship style centers around a preacher or speaker. Contemporary pulpits usually consist of simple wood construction with plain designs and smaller frames.