The heart of a Christian church in the Anglican tradition is the altar, also known as the ‘Holy
Table.’ It is the most sacred object in the church because on it the sacrament of the Lord’s
Supper or Eucharist is celebrated every Sunday. That altar is both the place where the
congregation’s sacrifice of thanks and praise is offered to God the Father and where the Holy
Spirit transforms our gifts of bread and wine to make them the special instruments of Christ’s
risen presence among us – the sacrament of the Eucharist.
There the risen Lord Jesus gathers and feeds his flock. There he builds us up as one body in
him as we eat and drink the holy gifts he gives us. It is the supreme place of communion
between God the Holy Trinity and us, and among ourselves as living members of the Body of
Christ.
