Altars for Everyone: Worship Designs on Any Budget

The altar sits at the heart of the worship space, reminding everyone that here is where we lift our hearts up to God. Often the altar is decorated, but almost always in the same way: with flowers, candles, or a cross. But what if the altar could be made a more integral part of the worship experience? What if the visual elements on the altar could be designed to fit in with that Sunday’s scriptures, hymns, prayers, and sermon? And what if it could be done, not only beautifully, but simply and inexpensively, so that churches of any size could benefit from this enhancement to their worship?

That is just what Nancy Townley and Stephanie Davis are offering in this helpful and practical book. Worship leaders and artists, they have assembled dozens of beautiful, worshipful altar designs, pictures of which appear in the book. Detailed instructions accompany the artwork and illustrate how to create the design, and how and where to find or purchase the component elements with the least effort and expense. Designed with the needs of small membership and mid-size churches in mind, this volume offers indispensable guidance for anyone who wants to make worship a more enriching and transforming experience.

Nancy C. Townley is an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church. She consults on visual arts, drama, liturgy and wrote for Worship Connection for several years. She is the co-author with Nylea Butler-Moore of the book Praise Now 2: More Ready-to-Use Services for Contemporary Worship published by Abingdon Press.

Stephanie Davis is an artist, educator, and worship team leader at Grace United Methodist Church in Bradford, Vermont.