The Internal Arrangement of the Church Building

Many of those who worship regularly in All Saints' will have noticed that the main altar was moved about a yard away from the end wall of the Church in January. This is something new for Turvey, but it is a change which has gradually been happening in Anglican church buildings throughout the World during the last seventy years, and in all Roman Catholic churches. In most Free Churches the holy table has always been well away from the wall of the building, and the minister faces the people over the table at communion.

What is the significance of the place of the altar or holy table in a church? To understand that we need to look at history.

The earliest place where Christians came together for what we now call the Holy Communion was in one another's houses. In meeting like this the early Christians were recalling the Last Supper in the upper room (probably the dining room) in Jerusalem where Jesus had his last meal with his disciples.

When the church ceased to be persecuted after Constantine became Emperor in 313AD Christians began to build special buildings for worship. At first they copied the shape of most public buildings in Roman times, the basilica. This was a rectangular building with an apse and often a podium at one end. They placed the holy table in the apse and the bishop and the presbyters who presided at the 'eucharist' (the Greek name for the service of thanksgiving which we call the Holy Communion) stood or sat round the table facing the rest of the people, the laity. Thus the eucharist or Holy Communion retained the form of a meal, with the holy table as the dining table.

Gradually, however, the clergy became more and more distinct from the rest of the laity. The sacrificial element of the eucharist became the main focus of the service rather than the communion meal. The bishop and presbyters were looked upon as priests offering sacrifice, somewhat on the Old Testament pattern. The church buildings developed two spaces or rooms, the sanctuary, where the priests celebrated the sacrifice of the mass, and the nave, where the rest of the people attended with less and less active participation. The laity rarely received communion. The choir was often placed between the sanctuary and the nave, and many churches had a screen separating the nave from the sanctuary. The holy table was called the altar, and the priest faced east (i.e. towards God in Jerusalem) and away from the rest of the people as he presided at the sacrificial meal.

(to be continued)

Canon Martin Reardon

Revd. Jo Spray

As announced in Church on 10th February, Jo Spray has been appointed to be Priest-in-Charge at Turvey.

Jo trained as a primary school teacher but spent the last twenty five years of her career teaching history in a very large comprehensive school. In addition, she was Head of Sixth form for twelve years. She was ordained in 1998 and has been serving as Curate at St. Michael and All Angels Church in Watford. She took early retirement from school two years ago to concentrate on parish work.

Jo is married to Rob; they have two married sons and one very new grandson. They say they are both looking forward very much to moving to Turvey and living and working in the village. Jo has commitments in her present Church until the end of April and then they have a holiday arranged. She expects to start work here towards the end of June.

Easter Lilies

We need to order our Easter lilies now. If you would like to donate a lily in memory of a loved one, please let Anne Claypole White (881661) know as soon as possible please.

Church Coffee Mornings

We plan to launch our regular monthly coffee mornings in aid of Church funds, on Saturday, 9th. March, 10.15a.m. at Homelands, High Street. There will be a raffle and a bring-and-buy stall for which contributions of cakes, produce etc. will be very welcome. Please do come and support us.

Mothers' Union

21st March, Lady Day Service at 2:45 pm in Church, followed by the AGM in the Manor Room.

Little Lights

Meeting on 4th & 25th March and 8th April at 2:30 pm in Church.

From the Secretary

Intercessional prayers for those in need.

In the Vestry we now have a notebook for prayers for those in need. If you so wish please ask the Churchwarden or sidesman on duty to enter the name(s) of those in need locally and known to us, who wish us to remember them in our prayers. The date and name and any appropriate information will be entered and the clergy taking the services will be informed.

This is for ongoing use.

Pastoral Group

If you know a church member who is in hospital and would like a visit please let us know and we will TRY to arrange for someone to call. Pastoral group and telephone numbers are: Cindy Woods (888849), Fay Gray (881353) and David Seaton (720015).

From the last PCC Minutes

Some of the main items discussed were: Pastoral Care, Communications, Social Activities, Insurances of the Church buildings, and the Annual Statement of Accounts.

A copy of the minutes is available in the vestry for members to see.

Reminder

Please be sure to complete one of the new electoral roll forms if you are eligible to be a Church member. Spare forms are on the tithe table.

The closing date for entry on the new Electoral Roll is 7p.m. on Sunday 17th March.

From the Treasurer

The Treasurer presented the PCC accounts for 2001 to the PCC meeting on 12th February. Despite the wonderful £1,617 raised at the Christmas Bazaar the PCC general account shows a deficit of £1,383 on the year. We also owe the Diocese £859 unpaid from our 2001 Quota. It is important, therefore, that Church members support the various money raising events that are planned for 2002 - for example the regular coffee mornings announced earlier in this newsletter.

The PCC accounts will now be independently examined before being presented to the Annual Meeting at the end of April. A copy of the accounts is available for inspection on the tithe table in Church, the Treasurer (David Nightingale ( 881453) will be pleased to answer any questions arising.