The holy table standing at the front of the church is usually very easily noticed, as it is quite large and decorated with many carvings of Christian importance.

   The lectern is situated on either the left or right side of the pulpit and although the lectern is only a reading desk it is very important and can be highly symbolic. The lectern in the Church of Ireland is made in the shape of an eagle that is perched upon a globe. Whilst perching this majestic bird has it wings stretched out in order to hold the open Bible and symbolize the importance of the word of God being carried throughout the world. The globe that the eagle is perched on helps to represent this. The eagle is also symbolic of St John, the fourth evangelist.

   There are many things I feel should be changed about the church. I strongly believe that it does not provide anything but the essentials, maybe the odd day of tea and biscuits but in my mind it is only old women who attend these and anyway tea and biscuits are essentials for the old women. Not many people like to do things with the bare essentials e.g. coursework, a pen and paper is all you need but its better to have a tutor, going to sleep, better a soft bed than a hard floor and eating your dinner is much more pleasant if the food is warm and has not been given time to cool down. People will conform if they have reason to believe it is a good thing, that more is done than is truly necessary. For example if a church were to make itself somewhat better more modern and less conventional they may be able to attract more young people. People who live through life alone but could be better off with guidance and if the church brings people in they can help with this. That is the first thing to change its not the building but by changing some aspects of the church more people are likely to attend. With regard to the comfort of the church the pews are defiantly  hard and uncomfortable, soft seats are what the churches need. There will then be more attention on the service than on, “awwwww man this seat seems to be hurting me, when are we getting out of here”. The heating in churches should also be reviewed as it’s a heater that’s needed not a burner, a pathetic excuse of a heater with only the sole purpose of hiding under your seat then when you least expect it, it burns your leg and you can’t help but wonder from the service pondering on why it burns you so bad but it still does nothing for the cold so cold and burnt you shall sit pondering until the service is done. Another thing that should be changed is breakfast I feel that the church should offer breakfast with doughnuts and other tasty morsels to munch upon at that time and also at the break in the long service I am about to suggest (there should be a break in the long service) or maybe even having shorter services and at the end everyone should get together up at the holy table (or elsewhere if that’s to holy to feast at) and have a buffer. If the church were to do one last thing and just make the music better (not that I hate church music) if it was just a little easier to enjoy and the services were more relevant, then the church would be a great place to go. All these things are not essential but its better to be comfortable in your surroundings and enjoy what you’re doing rather than being uncomfortable and cold and resenting the wretched people that dragged you there to listen to this dull man droning on about something you’re not that interested in.