Structural Changes in Church

[Trinity117]

I’ll bet this has been asked before, but I could not find it. If I am duplicating here, I do apologize.

I am writing a witness for a retreat at my church and I was telling the story of my grandmother’s church (1960’s era) which was a very traditional cross-shaped stone church that had a communion rail.

I am still researching some church history (my new favorite pastime) but the question occurred to me - why were the rails done away with? Was it purely the changes made by Vatican II? That would be my guess, but I am not sure.

Thanks for any assistance that you can give - it is really just for my own information.

 

[Cristiano]

I’ll bet this has been asked before, but I could not find it. If I am duplicating here, I do apologize.

I am writing a witness for a retreat at my church and I was telling the story of my grandmother’s church (1960’s era) which was a very traditional cross-shaped stone church that had a communion rail.

I am still researching some church history (my new favorite pastime) but the question occurred to me - why were the rails done away with? Was it purely the changes made by Vatican II? That would be my guess, but I am not sure.

Thanks for any assistance that you can give - it is really just for my own information.

The removal of the altar rails was not a change made by Vatican II.

This change and others came with the presence of liturgical free-lancing during the implementation of the new order of the Mass. Altar rails are still present in some churches.

 

[Trinity117]

Really, very interesting! I know the church that I attend now does not have the rail - but this building went up in the late 50’s – the original church was destroyed in a fire.

I have seen pictures of the original and it DID have the communion rail. I don’t recall being in any “recently” (past 30 years) constructed church that had rails . . . that is what lead me to ask.

Thank you!

 

[Cristiano]

Really, very interesting! I know the church that I attend now does not have the rail - but this building went up in the late 50’s – the original church was destroyed in a fire.

I have seen pictures of the original and it DID have the communion rail. I don’t recall being in any “recently” (past 30 years) constructed church that had rails . . . that is what lead me to ask.

Thank you!

The new chapel in our church has been built less than five years ago and we have wonderful wooden communion rails built and donated by one our our parishoners. They are formally used only when we have celebration of the EF (and that is extremely rare because it is generally celebrated at the Cathedral downtown)

 

[anns82]

We do not have altar rails at our church, which as actually built maybe 10 or so years ago. At the same time, our church is very traditional, and at they place kneelers in front of the first row of pews for communion during the weekday masses and the Latin mass on Sunday.

 

[Thomas58]

The removal of the altar rails was not a change made by Vatican II.

Vatican II did not specifically prescribe the removal of alters and communion rails. However these changes were the consequence of the Novus Ordo Mass promulgated by Paul VI which allowed for the Priest to offer Mass *“versus populum” *(towards the people) as opposed to the Priest offering Mass “ad orientem” (towards the east or the alter). Also allowing for the Eucharist to be received while standing in the hand lead to the tearing away of the communion rails in many Churches.

 

[Trinity117]

Thank you all, anns. Thomas and Christiano - I find it interesting to read you responses! I was thinking along those same lines - the rails being gone when the NO was introduced, but I wasn’t sure if it had changed all over (apparently not) the states. Very interesting.

Things like that just fascinate me - no idea why!!

Thanks for your (name removed by moderator)ut and God Bless

 

[archangel04]

The removal of the altar rails was not a change made by Vatican II.

This change and others came with the presence of liturgical free-lancing during the implementation of the new order of the Mass. Altar rails are still present in some churches.

IMHO the ones that were left standing when the NO came to the scene were the ones that were too heavy, expensive, or beutiful to move. But I could be wrong.

 

[Cristiano]

Vatican II did not specifically prescribe the removal of alters and communion rails. However these changes were the consequence of the Novus Ordo Mass promulgated by Paul VI which allowed for the Priest to offer Mass *“versus populum” *(towards the people) as opposed to the Priest offering Mass “ad orientem” (towards the east or the alter). Also allowing for the Eucharist to be received while standing in the hand lead to the tearing away of the communion rails in many Churches.

This statement is consistent with what I have said. You have my Nihil Obstat!