Cincture

For the architectural element, see Architectural glossary.

An Anglican priest wearing a white cincture around his waist to hold his alb and purple stole in place.

The cincture is a Christian liturgical vestment, worn encircling the body around or above the waist. There are two types of cincture. One is a rope-like narrow girdle or rope-like belt around the waist. The other type is a broad ribbon of cloth that runs around the waist and usually has a section that hangs down from the waist; this type is often called a "band cincture". One or other or both types may be in use in any particular Christian denomination. Both types are in use in the Roman Catholic Church and the Anglican Church.

In the Roman Catholic Church as a matter of customary terminology, the term cincture is most often applied to a long, rope-like cord with tassled or knotted ends, tied around the waist outside the alb. The colour may be white, or may vary according to the colour of the liturgical season. A Catholic bishop's cincture is made of intertwining gold and green threads, a cardinal's has red and gold, and the pope's with white and gold. When the cincture is tied in the front and the ends draped on either side, it is called a Roman Knot.

The same rope-like vestment is widely used in the Anglican, Methodist and Lutheran churches, as well as some other Protestant churches. However, in these denominations it is usually referred to as a "girdle", the term "cincture" being used instead to signify a broad sash-like vestment worn over the cassock somewhat above the waist. That is, the term "cincture" means the band cincture. The band cincture in the Roman Catholic Church is usually known as the "fascia".