2 April 2025

One of the major liturgical changes at the Reformation was the removal of the altar and the introduction of tables into the Kirk. This was in keeping with a different theological understanding of the Sacrament of Holy Communion.

It became known in some quarters as ‘The Last Supper’ and this gave the game away. It was a meal served on a table rather than a sacrifice on an altar. Whilst we would be more nuanced now and recognise the symbolism of both, the table is greatly favoured in the contemporary church.

Ever since the Church of England moved away from the High Altar fixed against the East wall and moved the altar into the nave, the table has been favoured in some quarters. We saw an excellent example of it in Lichfield Cathedral.

It has an exquisite wooden table sitting in the nave. It had a simple white cloth on it draped at the sides but not on front and back. In this way, we were able to see the wooden carving on the front of the table. It was a ‘Tree of Life’.

The wood for the table has come from a tree and the cross is often talked about as a tree and the Holy Table is the place where we break bread which is our spiritual nourishment. ‘I am the Bread of Life’ says Jesus. This is the fruit of the cross, the tree, the tree of life.

In a former day, it was common in the Anglican tradition  for the elements to be consumed and the vessels washed at the altar but in recent years, the custom is to remove them to a side table instead. This has the effect of leaving the Holy Table to share its simplicity and beauty  without distraction.