Evaluating The Place Of The Altar Or Table

This article argues that the altar should serve as a focal point in the worship space. It discusses both the theological rationale for this idea and how it can be achieved through spatial arrangements and seating patterns. It is presented from a Roman Catholic perspective but introduces ideas that can inform discussions in many worshiping traditions. Liturgy documents, rituals, and commentaries published since the Second Vatican Council clearly indicate that the altar table is to be a focal point in worship spaces and that it is to be central to the gathered assembly. These sources paint a striking picture of the whole assembly gathered about the altar table. Why then is the altar table in most Catholic places of worship still located at one end of the room? One answer has to do with how a community understands the different roles required for the eucharistic liturgy. Another answer is found in the research that deals with the psychology of space, e. g. , territoriality and seating …