When I first walked into a Presbyterian church, I was struck by something unusual—the absence of an altar. I had always associated church worship with a central altar, a place where something sacred happened. Instead, I found a plain communion table.
The focus was on the pulpit, where the pastor preached, and the congregation, who participated in prayer and singing. This wasn’t just an aesthetic choice. The lack of an altar is a deep theological statement about how Presbyterians understand worship, the sacraments, and their relationship with God.
Worship in Presbyterian Churches is Centered on the Word
When I attend a Presbyterian service, the Bible is the foundation of everything. Unlike Catholic or Orthodox churches, where worship is shaped by the altar, the sacraments, and the liturgy, Presbyterian services are built around Scripture. Every hymn, every prayer, every sermon is designed to teach, reinforce, and reflect on God’s Word.
I have noticed that Presbyterian churches make a deliberate effort to eliminate anything that distracts from biblical teaching. There are no elaborate rituals, no incense, no processions toward an altar.
The pulpit stands in the most visible spot because the pastor’s primary duty is to preach and explain Scripture, not perform a sacred ritual. This reflects the Reformation principle of sola scriptura, which means Scripture alone is the final authority for faith and practice.
The Difference Between an Altar and a Communion Table
I used to think that an altar and a communion table were just different names for the same thing. But when I started attending Presbyterian services, I learned that they represent completely different theological ideas.
| Altar | Communion Table |
|---|---|
| A place of sacrifice | A place of fellowship |
| Used for the offering of Christ in Catholic & Orthodox traditions | Used for remembering Christ’s completed sacrifice |
| Requires a priest to officiate the ritual | Any pastor or elder can lead communion |
| Symbolizes a sacred meeting point between God and man | Symbolizes a meal shared with Christ |
In Catholic, Orthodox, and some Anglican traditions, the altar is the center of worship because the Eucharist (communion) is seen as a re-presentation of Christ’s sacrifice. The priest consecrates the bread and wine at the altar, and it is believed to become the actual body and blood of Christ.
In Presbyterian theology, this idea is rejected. The sacrifice of Christ happened once and for all, and there is no need to repeat it through an altar ritual. The communion table is a symbol of our relationship with Christ, not a place where a priest acts as a mediator between God and man.
Why Presbyterians Reject the Altar
When I asked a Presbyterian pastor about this, he pointed me to the Bible’s teaching on Christ’s sacrifice and the role of worship. He explained that Presbyterians do not have an altar for four main reasons.
1. Christ’s Sacrifice Was Once and for All
The Old Testament was filled with altars because people needed to offer sacrifices for their sins. Every day, priests slaughtered animals as offerings to God. These sacrifices foreshadowed the ultimate sacrifice—Jesus’ death on the cross.
But when Jesus was crucified, He fulfilled the entire sacrificial system. There was no longer a need for an earthly altar because His sacrifice was final and complete.
- Hebrews 10:10 – “We have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”
- John 19:30 – When Jesus died, He said, “It is finished.” This means that no further sacrificial offering is required.
If Christ’s work is finished, then why would there still be an altar? Presbyterians take this very seriously. They believe that placing an altar in a church suggests that some kind of sacrifice is still happening, which contradicts the Bible.
2. Worship Centers on Preaching, Not Rituals
I have attended Catholic Mass before, and the altar is the heart of the service. The priest faces the altar, performs the Eucharist, and leads the congregation through liturgical prayers. But when I attend a Presbyterian service, the pulpit replaces the altar as the focal point.
- Romans 10:17 – “Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”
- The primary act of worship is hearing and responding to God’s Word, not performing a ritualistic sacrifice.
Every time I hear a Presbyterian sermon, I realize why this matters. The service isn’t about watching a sacred act take place; it’s about learning, understanding, and applying the Bible to my life.
3. The Priesthood of All Believers
In Catholic and Orthodox churches, the priest acts as a mediator between God and the people. The altar belongs to the priest, and only he is allowed to perform the sacred duties there. But in Presbyterian theology, there is no need for a human mediator.
- 1 Peter 2:9 – “You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession.”
- Every believer has direct access to God without needing a priest or an altar.
This is something that really changed my understanding of worship. Instead of relying on a clergy hierarchy, I realized that I could approach God directly through Jesus Christ. That’s why Presbyterians do not have altars or priests—both are unnecessary because Christ is our High Priest.
4. The Lord’s Supper is a Spiritual Meal, Not a Sacrifice
When I first took communion in a Presbyterian church, I noticed how different it felt compared to Catholic Mass. In Catholicism, the Eucharist is believed to become the literal body and blood of Christ, and the altar is where this transformation happens.
But in Presbyterian theology, the Lord’s Supper is symbolic. The bread and wine do not change in substance, and they are not offered up as a new sacrifice. Instead, they serve as a reminder of Jesus’ work on the cross and a spiritual communion with Him.
- Luke 22:19 – “Do this in remembrance of me.”
- The focus is on faith, not on the physical elements of the bread and wine.
This means there is no need for a physical altar, because there is no sacrificial act taking place. Instead, the communion table serves as a symbol of our unity with Christ and with each other.
How This Affects Church Design
Every time I step into a Presbyterian church, I see how theology shapes architecture. The absence of an altar affects the entire layout of the sanctuary.
- Pulpit at the center – This reflects the centrality of God’s Word.
- Communion table instead of an altar – This shows that worship is about remembrance, not sacrifice.
- Simple and unadorned – This avoids distractions and keeps the focus on God.
Some Presbyterian churches even avoid stained glass, statues, and elaborate decorations to prevent the worship service from feeling ritualistic or sacramental.
Connection to the Reformation Movement
When I started learning about why Presbyterian churches reject altars, I realized that this practice goes back to the Protestant Reformation. The Reformers, including John Calvin and John Knox, were deeply concerned about how the Roman Catholic Church placed the altar and the Eucharist at the center of worship. They saw this as a major theological mistake because it suggested that Christ’s sacrifice was ongoing, rather than completed on the cross.
During the Reformation, churches that followed Reformed theology made radical changes to worship spaces. The pulpit replaced the altar, the Bible replaced tradition as the final authority, and the focus shifted to preaching and teaching rather than performing sacred rituals. This was especially true in Presbyterianism, which was shaped by the teachings of Calvin and Knox.
One of the most striking changes was how church interiors were redesigned. The Reformers saw elaborate church decorations, gold-plated altars, and stained glass as distractions. Many Reformed churches were stripped of statues, candles, and ornate artwork. Instead, the layout was simple, drawing attention to Scripture and communal worship.
The Shift from a Sacrificial Mindset to a Preaching-Based Worship
Before the Reformation, the altar was considered the holiest place in the church. The priest would perform the Eucharist there, facing the altar rather than the congregation. The Reformers rejected this model because it created a separation between clergy and the people.
They believed that worship should be a shared experience, not something controlled by an ordained priest. This is why Presbyterian churches have a pulpit as the focal point, facing the congregation, rather than an altar where a priest performs a sacred act. The Bible is read and explained, and the congregation actively participates in prayers and hymns.
This shift was revolutionary. Instead of coming to church to watch a sacrifice, people came to hear the Word of God, pray together, and take part in the Lord’s Supper as a communal meal. This change emphasized the personal relationship between believers and God, without the need for a priestly mediator.
The Role of the Lord’s Supper in Presbyterian Worship
Although Presbyterians do not have an altar, they still observe the Lord’s Supper (communion). However, the way it is practiced differs significantly from traditions that use an altar.
- The communion table is symbolic – It is a place of remembrance, not sacrifice.
- The elements (bread and wine) remain bread and wine – There is no belief in transubstantiation (the idea that the elements become the actual body and blood of Christ).
- Communion is led by pastors and elders – No priest is needed to perform a consecration.
- It is taken in a communal setting – Often, it is served to the congregation in their seats, reinforcing the idea of shared fellowship with Christ.
Because Presbyterians see communion as a spiritual meal, not a sacrifice, there is no need for an altar. The focus is on faith in Christ’s completed work, not on an ongoing ritual of offering His body again.
Do Other Reformed Churches Follow This Practice?
I’ve visited other churches from different Protestant traditions, and I noticed that not all of them follow the same practice when it comes to altars. Some have a structure that looks like an altar but is used differently.
| Church Tradition | Has an Altar? | Main Worship Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Presbyterian | ❌ No | Preaching & Scripture |
| Catholic | ✅ Yes | Eucharist & Sacrament |
| Anglican | ✅ Yes | Liturgy & Communion |
| Baptist | ❌ No | Preaching & Personal Faith |
| Lutheran | ✅ Yes | Sacraments & Word |
Anglican and Lutheran churches still use altars, but their theology differs from Catholicism. Lutherans, for example, believe in the Real Presence of Christ in communion but reject the idea that the bread and wine literally turn into His body and blood. Anglicans vary in their beliefs, with some leaning more toward a Protestant view and others holding onto a more Catholic approach to the Eucharist.
Baptist churches, like Presbyterians, do not have altars. They emphasize individual faith and preaching, and their communion services are symbolic.
How This Affects Church Worship Today
Even though the absence of an altar might not seem like a big deal to some people, it fundamentally changes how worship is experienced. In a church with an altar, worship revolves around the Eucharist and liturgical rituals. In a Presbyterian church, worship revolves around the Word of God and the gathered community.
I have attended services in both settings, and the difference is noticeable. In a Catholic or Orthodox church, the priest is at the center of the service, leading the congregation through sacred rites. In a Presbyterian church, the pastor preaches, and the congregation is actively involved in prayers, hymns, and responsive readings.
The theology behind rejecting the altar also impacts how people view their relationship with God. Without an altar, there is no physical barrier between believers and Christ. There is no priestly hierarchy that stands between individuals and their access to God. Worship becomes a shared experience, not something mediated by a select group of clergy.