CONSECRATION, the act of devoting any thing to the service and worship of God. The Mosaic law ordained, that all the first-born, both of man and beast, should be sanctified or consecrated to God. We find also, that Joshua consecrated the Gibeonites, as Solomon and David did the Nethinims, to the service of the temple; and that the Hebrews sometimes consecrated their fields and cattle to the Lord, after which they were no longer in their power.
Among the ancient Christians, the consecration of churches was performed with a great deal of pious solemnity. In what manner it was done for the three first ages, is uncertain; the authentic accounts reaching no higher than the fourth, when, in the peaceable reign of Constantine, churches were every where built, and dedicated with great solemnity. Some think the consecration consisted in setting up the sign of the cross, or in placing a communion-table in the church; and others, that no more was done than preaching a panegyrical sermon in commemoration of the founder, and that then they proceeded to prayers, one of which was composed on purpose for the church to be consecrated. The Romanists have a great deal of pious pomp in the ceremonies of consecration; which they bestow on almost every thing, as bells, candles, books, water, oil, ashes, palms, swords, banners, pictures, crosses, agnus-dei's, roses, children's clouts, &c.
In England, churches have been always consecrated with particular ceremonies, the form of which was left to the discretion of the bishop. That observed by bishop Laud, in consecrating St Catherine Creed church, in London, gave great offence.