An Introduction To The Secondary Visual Arts In Worship

Because worship celebrates the gospel, the most visual images of worship are those which express the body of Christ assembled around Word, Table and font. Consequently, secondary symbols must serve the primary symbols by pointing to them and never dominating or overpowering them. The following secondary symbols have an important place in worship and will function well as servants of the primary symbols. Table (Altar) Hangings In the early church, cloths were probably not placed on the Table. However, by the third century there is evidence that a silk cloth covered the Table. By the fourth century, Christians began to decorate the cloth with embroidery and jewels, so much so that a warning against paying too much attention to the cloth was issued by John Chrysostom, the Bishop of Constantinople. Over the decorated cloth another linen cloth was placed for the celebration of the Eucharist. In the medieval era this top cloth was replaced by a frontal cloth which hung down the front of t…