The sanctity of the sanctuary

St John's Anglican, Lunenburg

            Last weekend, the parish provided a rest(rooms) and refreshment stop for a local 'house tour' - we were colloquially calling it the "tea and pee" stop. We used the opportunity to invite people to have a peek inside the church itself, sharing some history about our space, community, and the stained glass windows so beloved of the parishioners. We welcomed over 300 people.

            One of the organisers brought forth a concern that guests were taking photographs of the windows over the altar - was that okay?

            Obviously, it was. And, I thought, how kind and respectful that this organiser was concerned to maintain the sanctity of the sacred space.

            The sanctuary - the space around the altar - is the holy of holies. It is that beautiful location where the Eucharist is consecrated, where offerings are blessed, where we gather as the children of God to share in the foretaste of the Kingdom.  Part of my presence during the tour was to help people understand that that space is holy because it is accessible to anyone seeking Christ in their hearts.

            This is why there are no secret or private events that take place in the sanctuary: to make something private is to deny someone else access to the sacred space.  Our liturgies express this, for example the rubrics are clear that Baptisms are to be celebrated in the context of the community, and the Eucharist is only to be celebrated with a minimum of 2 gathered.

            While we want people to feel at home in the sanctuary - God's space for God's people - we hope that they will approach it with respect. We want people to understand why it is a holy place, while affirming that they are welcome there. It's a delicate balance.

            We must be careful to avoid making the space inaccessible: I've heard legends of altar guilds who only let 'their' vacuum clean the space (the Holy Hoover? Sacred Sucker?), or of florists told that their 'unblessed hands' prevent them from delivering flowers beyond the door. I've heard people claim the sanctuary as 'their personal space' to use as they see fit.

            These legends - and any attitudes behind them - are just as unhelpful as those who fail to appreciate the holiness of the space. They suggest that the sanctuary is property, a personal commodity. It is not. And it is part of the ministry of clergy to ensure that such attitudes

            Part of my ministry is to welcome people to encounter God at the altar; and so I am responsible for maintaining the sanctity of the sanctuary. I aim to do this with prayer. Every time I enter the sanctuary, I pray that it will be a safe space for all of God's people; that the peace of God is in the hearts of all who enter; that any divisions will cease as people approach the altar. I pray that the space will be respected, the people will be respected, and that the community will be respected.

            May the sanctuary always be a place of holy inclusion, of divine welcome, of accessible refuge. May the sanctuary always be a respected centre of holiness.