Why Do They Burn Incense in Church?

Factual Questions
1

Just curious after all these years. Why DO they burn incense in churches?

2

Not so long ago…Well okay, a couple of centuries perhaps, bathing was not something you did on a whim…

3

It is to purify the air for the Holy Spirit (according to my church-Episcopalian (which I always spell differently))

The fact that it covered up the stench of the unwashed masses was also a bonus.

4

Is that why they call the benches pews???

Sorry, couldn’t resist.

5

What I remember is that incense is symbolic of prayer rising to God as the incense wafts upward. This is partly in line with this:

from http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07716a.htm.