Spring City Ward Sacrament Table
Centered in the room and in front of the pulpit, this is the focal point of the service and of the chapel space. As a previous commenter stated, this is an altar, but we don’t call it that for some reason, so I reverted back to the much more practical ‘Sacrament Table.’
164 S Main
Spring City, UT
Built 1902
Click for Map Location of Building
The carpet makes me sad for some reason – it just doesn’t fit with the style of the building.
And now, for something completely different:
I think there may be three reasons why we use “table” instead of “altar.” First, we use altars in our temples – their use in the temple ordinances is quite different than the way we use the Sacrament tables in our chapels – as Mormons, we tend to avoid using temple terminology outside of the temples. Second, most of the early New England converts to the church were raised in churches that also don’t use altars, but rather “communion tables.” (i.e. Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian, Congregational – the use of the word “altar” is pretty much restricted to churches in the Catholic tradition.) Third, what we call “The Sacrament” is short for “The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper.” Christ instituted this ordinance during the last supper (presumable at a table), and performing the ordinance at a table is a way to remember the event.
July 21, 2011 at 12:53 am
Thanks for the explanation on Sacrament tables, Paul. And I do agree with you about the carpet.
July 21, 2011 at 6:23 am
I absolutely love this style, as it moves the sacrament table to the focal point of the room and thus helps us remember that the ordinance of The Sacrament is the focal point of the meetings. #LOVEIT
July 24, 2011 at 9:38 pm
That carpet is horrible and needs to go away. The red curtain thing/modesty panel is also annoying.
July 26, 2011 at 7:57 pm