• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
Zippy Facts Logo

Zippy Facts

Interesting Random Facts

  • Animals
  • Culture
  • Firsts
  • Food
  • Geography
  • Health
  • History
  • Inventions
  • Language
  • Mythology
  • Odds
  • People
  • Religion
  • Science
  • Space
  • Universe
  • World
You are here: Home / Language / Where does the phrase “amen corner” come from and What does it mean?

Where does the phrase “amen corner” come from and What does it mean?

March 11, 2020 by Karen Hill

Who started it and just when is not on the record, but there is little doubt that the “amen corner” was familiar in some American churches, probably Methodist, early in colonial history.

Some little church, very likely, began it by placing a bench for the deacons in a corner up toward the front of the congregation, perhaps so that they might the better see who was not paying attention to the sermon.

These deacons or other saints, perhaps to keep awake themselves or perhaps merely to show how closely they were following the preacher’s discourse, began to express approval audibly, instead of just nodding the head, whenever he said something particularly fitting.

This was done by saying “amen,” perhaps quietly or perhaps with great enthusiasm and unction when aroused by the dramatic fervor of some portion of the sermon. The original experiment was undoubtedly a success because the practice spread to other churches.

This special seat was originally called the “deacons’ bench”, a term later applied to a settee in front of a fireplace, but, though not in print before 1868, the disrespectful and popular name given to it was the “amen corner.”

Many years later, toward the end of the nineteenth century, the newspapers of New York City began to call a room of the Fifth Avenue Hotel, reserved especially for the group of politicians currently in power, the “amen corner,” possibly because the last word in regard to city politics was said there.

Of independent formation, a street corner in London, no longer in existence, was anciently known as the Amen Corner.

It was so called because, on Corpus Christi Day, the monks proceeding to St. Paul’s Cathedral, singing the Pater Noster (thus giving the name “Paternoster Row” to the street they traversed), reached the turn of the road as they sang the Amen.

Related Facts

  • Where does the phrase "to come to the end of one's rope" come from and What does it mean?
  • What does the phrase "come hell or high water" mean and Where does it come from?
  • What Does the Expression "Until the Cows Come Home" Mean and Where Did the Phrase Come From?
  • Where does the phrase "touch and go" come from and What does touch and go mean?
  • Where does the phrase "alpha and omega" come from and What does alpha and omega mean?
  • Where does the phrase "cock and bull story" come from and What does it mean?

Filed Under: Language

About Karen Hill

Karen Hill is a freelance writer, editor, and columnist. Born in New York, her work has appeared in the Examiner, Yahoo News, Buzzfeed, among others.

Previous Post: « What does the expression “to play second fiddle” mean and Where did it originate?
Next Post: Where does the expression “once in a blue moon” come from and What does it mean? »

Footer

Follow

  • Facebook
  • Flickr
  • GitHub
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Medium
  • Pinterest
  • StumbleUpon
  • Tumblr
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Categories

Accomplishments Animals Culture Firsts Food Geography Health History Inventions Language Mythology Odds People Religion Science Space Universe World Your Body

About

Zippy Facts empowers the world by serving educational content that is accessible to everyone.

A tribute to growing up, zippyfacts.com showcases interesting and unusual facts about the world.

Our mission is to use technology to facilitate knowledge transfer and sharing.

Copyright © 2021 Zippy Facts

  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy