Ambry

armoire) is a recessed cabinet in the wall of a Christian church for storing sacred vessels and vestments.

[citation needed] The Reformed churches abandoned reservation of the elements, so that ambries, unless used for housing vessels, became redundant.

Former regulations required it to be secured and locked, and lined and veiled with either purple cloth (in reference to the Oil of the Sick) or white (for the Sacred Chrism).

Such regulations are now relaxed so that while many churches continue to use such an ambry, the oils are also stored and in some cases displayed in other ways.

According to Ritual Notes, the Anglo-Catholic manual of rites and ceremonies, aumbries are used for reservation rather than tabernacles in churches in some dioceses because the diocesan bishop has so ordered.

These aumbries should conform in general to the requirements for tabernacles including an ever-burning light and covering with a veil.