THE SETTING

The Mass was photographed in the church of the Holy Trinity, Dorchester, Dorset.  This small Gothic Revival Church, built in the 19^th century to the designs of Benjamin Ferry, was originally a parish church of the Church of England. It was bought by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Plymouth in  1975 to serve the needs of Catholics in Dorchester where the former Catholic church building had become too small.  It is a competent piece of work, designed along the principles established by AWN Pugin, with some good stained glass by CE Kempe and an elaborate painted and gilded reredos carved at Oberammergau. 

The Catholic congregation redesigned the small chancel removing the choir and creating a spacious sanctuary. They brought with them the beautiful alabaster altar from their old church and retained the brass eagle lectern from Anglican days. Interestingly, they placed the altar at the centre of the sanctuary with a single step (predella or footpace) which extends both in front of and behind the altar. The Blessed Sacrament is reserved in a central tabernacle situated on the shelf (gradine) at the foot of the reredos.  The Celebrant’s chair is normally placed at the right side of the altar with the deacon’s seat next to it.  Since the space here is limited I have chosen to seat the two ministers on the former choir bench facing north. This becomes less of an issue where the first part of the Mass is celebrated at the altar (an option in the Ordinariate rite) but might be an issue in the celebration of the current Roman Rite. The altar is vested in a frontal:  this was almost universal among Anglicans (indeed the omission of the frontal on Catholic altars dates only from the 17^th century ) and has two candles with more standing around: again, Anglican custom. There is no need for a standing crucifix on the altar as there is a prominent crucifixion on the reredos. Depiction of the Lord’s death should be treated with reticence: the constant repetition of the sacred symbol on vestments and even carpets is to be avoided! The altar missal rests on a cushion, a beautiful feature of the English tradition. Flower vases, altar cards and reliquaries and all the clutter of the Victorian altar are  avoided: the English liturgical tradition retains the primitive notion that only what is necessary for the celebration of the Eucharist is placed on the Holy Table. This is also the norm for the current Roman Rite.  If the need is felt for the Celebrant to have the Offertory prayers and words of Institution in front of him then a laminated card may discretely lie flat on the altar table – whether the Mass be celebrated ‘facing the people’ or ‘eastward facing’. 

It seems appropriate at this stage to consider the position of the Celebrant at the altar.  Up until the Council Catholic altars were often built in such a way that the priest could only take the ‘eastward position’. The tabernacle was on the centre of the altar, and the six candlesticks might stand on a shelf (gradine). In the 19^th century the reredos, often containing a throne for Exposition grew in size and magnificence, but left the altar as a mere sideboard at its foot.  It took the work of the Liturgical Movement and the subsequent reforms of the Council to restore the significance and dignity of the Catholic altar. Of course, as with all reforms, the pendulum may swing too far in the other direction. Architects do not always understand the practicalities (altars too small or the wrong shape) and the sheer ugliness of  some recent designs, leaves one gasping.

The credence table is always at the Celebrant’s right (and will therefore ‘change sides’ depending on whether he celebrates ‘ad orientem’ or ‘versus populum’. It should be large enough to take the chalice(s) and paten (or ciborium) before Mass, together with cruets and lavabo bowl, as well as normally being the place for the ablutions after Communion. The vessels are never placed on the altar before the Offertory.

Seats for the servers are provided to the left and right of the sanctuary.

In both the ‘Ordinary Form’ as well as in the Ordinariate Rite the Celebrant may take either ‘eastward’ or ‘westward’ position. The Ordinariate Rite expresses a preference for the ‘ad orientem’ position. ( Most Anglo-Catholics in the UK installed a ‘nave altar’ in the 1970’s at which the Eucharist was celebrated ‘facing the people’, at least on Sundays.  In the United States I understand that the ‘eastward position’ remained more common) . So much must depend on the building. I have  seen the Divine Worship Mass celebrated on a small altar, cluttered with candlesticks and  altar cards, and with the priest precariously perched on the narrow front step. The sight was faintly ludicrous! Forcing the liturgy into a straitjacket where what is deemed to be ‘correct’ is given   preference over what is sensible, simple and  beautiful.