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      The Services

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THE ALTAR

      In recent years there have been radical changes in church architecture and with them have come new settings and placement of the altar. The design with which we were once familiar is the traditional church built in a cruciform shape with the altar against the east wall on a foot-pace and steps leading up to it. The communion rail separates it from the choir within the chancel, from which more steps lead down into the nave. Since some Episcopal churches still follow this pattern, most of the instructions here can be followed by them.

      In building churches today the trend is to a modern design with free-standing altar in a sanctuary enclosed by the communion rail and with the nave directly adjoining—that is, without the customary choir and chancel. The choir is usually in a balcony at the rear of the church and the offices are all said in the sanctuary. Churches which have a chapel often say the Daily Offices there. Week-day celebrations of the Holy Communion as well as occasional services are also said in the Chapel.

      A number of new churches now have an “altar in the round.”

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