High Altar

The main altar for eucharistic celebration in a church. In medieval and gothic revival churches, the high altar stands centered, near or placed against the east wall. The high altar is typically on a platform some steps higher than the rest of the church. This position of prominence distinguishes the high altar from the other altars in the church, a common design in medieval and Anglo-catholic styles. Current architectural conventions for the liturgy emphasize a single altar, prominently placed and not remote from the people, as a practical sign of unity for the eucharistic gathering.