When the church was constructed in 1906, the marble altar was located on the back wall of the chancel and was much larger. Three marble steps on three sides led up to the altar, there were nightstand-like extensions on each side, and a retable on the back with HOLY HOLY HOLY carved into the marble. The priest would stand either facing or beside the altar when celebrating the Eucharist. Either way, they were far removed from the congregation. Changes to liturgical practices brought about by revisions to the Book of Common Prayer in 1979 called for altars to be brought forward and for the priest to stand behind the altar and face the congregation when celebrating the Eucharist. The altar was moved and reworked as part of the chancel and nave renovation projects that were completed in 1983 in preparation for installation of the mighty Rosales Organ.
The altar was a gift during construction of the church in 1906 from Francis Lewis Fairbanks, the sister of the church’s architect David C. Lewis. Their father was Cicero H. Lewis, in whose memory the Eagle Lectern was given. Their grandparents were Captain John Couch and Caroline Flanders Couch. Couch street in Portland is named for Captain John Couch and Flanders Street is named for Caroline’s brother, Captain George Flanders.
