Nave Altar Survey

The “Nave Altar” Survey

On January 18, 2009, and again on February 15th, an altar was placed on the proscenium stage at St. Luke’s for Sunday worship. The presider conducted the liturgy there, facing the congregation.¹ Following the second trial of this layout, a survey was put to the parishioners, with the promise that the results would be included in the forthcoming parish self-portrait, and conveyed to clergy who might be considering applying for the position of Rector.

Eighty-eight survey forms were turned in, which the Interim Incumbent proceeded to tabulate carefully. He reported the results at the Vestry meeting of March 19, 2009. His complete report can be accessed here. The following paragraphs are a summary of the results, and are the first two paragraphs of the complete report:

Summary
The people of St. Luke’s are content with Sunday worship where the presider is at the High Altar, facing away from the congregation. They find it easier to pray and to sense the presence of God when the liturgy is laid out in this manner. While a clear majority (60%) considers the reverence of the liturgy more important than the location of the altar, there is also a sense that it is spiritually desirable to keep the liturgical layout the same week by week.

Should the parish ever use a Nave altar in worship? A lot of people did not even answer this question. Those who did reply can accept the use of a Nave Altar on occasion, but most feel that the high altar should be used the majority of the time.

Continued... click here to continue reading online.
— or, to view and download a printable copy of the complete report, click here.

¹ Historical note: This is not the first time that a Nave Altar has been used at St. Luke’s. It was first introduced in 1965, under the guidance of the Rev’d Fraser Berry (later Bishop of Kootenay), and used on many occasions in the decades since then. By the early 2000s, it was being used at the main Sunday service twice a month. However, the moveable altar that had been built for the purpose was dilapidated and unsafe, and its use was discontinued by 2004. Thereafter, all Sunday Eucharists were “Eastward facing,” with the exception of June to August when worship centres around the St. Alban’s Oratory, where the altar is always “Westward facing.” — T.H-J.