Versus populum
However, the Tridentine Missal is not celebrated versus populum since the Ritus Servandus gives corresponding instructions for the priest when performing actions that require him to face the people.
[6] It was in the 8th or 9th century that the position whereby the priest faced the apse, not the people, when celebrating Mass was adopted in Rome,[7] under the influence of the Frankish Empire,[8] where it had become general.
It is thought that this is partly due to Wren being the son and nephew of distinguished Laudian churchmen, who would certainly have had the traditional ad orientem arrangement in their churches.
[19] This also applied to the city churches that survived the fire, such as St Helen, Bishopsgate, which retained its ad orientem orientation until the end of the 20th century.
Notable examples include the 19th century high altar at St Paul's Cathedral by Bodley and Garner constructed in marble with a large marble reredos, and the various Oxford Movement churches such as All Saints, Margaret Street and St Cyprian's, Clarence Gate by Comper, built to a Sarum Rite ideal.
This was controversial, despite many notable 19th century Anglican churches and cathedrals in America had been built to Anglo-Catholic ideals, complete with stone eastward-facing altars and using full Eucharistic vestments, but nonetheless regularized a practice that was already widespread.
"[21] Today, it is not uncommon to find ad orientem celebrations of the Eucharist in more traditional Anglican churches, but the reformed late 20th century Roman Catholic practice of versus populum is undoubtedly more widespread despite never being the historical norm.
While architectural integrity should be respected, it is important for churches to carefully adapt or renovate their worship spaces more fully to invite the people to participate in the Holy Meal.
If altars are for all practical purposes immovable, then congregations should make provisions for creating a table suitable to the space so that the presiding minister may face the people and be closer to them.
[22]In the Lutheran German Mass (Deutsche Messe), Martin Luther, the founder of that denomination, wrote that: Here [in Wittenberg] we retain the vestments, altar, and candles until they are used up or we are pleased to make a change.
[23]In discussing the Divine Service, Lorraine S. Brugh and Gordon W. Lathrop write that "Many Lutherans, in concert with many other Christians, think that the time of which Luther spoke has indeed come, and that the pastor should preside at the table facting the people, i.e., versus populum.
The assembly needs to have a sense that it is gathered around that table, sees and hears what happens there, has a promise of Christ clearly addressed to it, participates in the thanksgiving, and is made into a community through God's gift.
On the other hand, he warned against quick and frequent changes to the liturgy, so he proposed a temporary solution - placing the cross in the middle of the altar, so the entire congregation "turns toward the Lord", who should be the real center of the Mass.
[26] Edward Slattery, from 1993 to 2016 Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tulsa, argued that the change towards versus populum has had a number of unforeseen and largely negative effects.
[27] On the other hand, the Jesuit theologian John Zupez, in an article in Emmanuel based on modern studies in scriptural exegesis, found that the New Testament word for sacrifice (hilasterion) refers to our expiation from sin, not propitiation impacting or appeasing God.
