Here are some earlier photos of the Sacred Heart in Atlanta:
Post later 1950’s up to the most recent renovation:
Artist rendering of most recent renovation:
In reality:
The earliest iterations of the sanctuary with its more than likely faux marble (wooden) altar, allows the three arches to be clearly seen.
The modern reredos, now removed, as well as a temporary canopy over the altar, hides the middle arch.
The newest renovation strives to recover the three arches look. The pedestal throne for the Most Blessed Sacrament is a nice attempt to be more to scale so that the three arches are all exposed, but it misses the mark. Perhaps the reredos for the tabernacle should have been taller so that the crucifix could be placed directly above the tabernacle but fully on the tabernacle’s marble backdrop. Where the crucifix is now placed looks like an after thought and not the right place for it.
I still think, though, that having the main altar only two steps up from the pews is a disaster of a mistake as the altar cannot be seen from the pews when the church is filled with people. What were they thinking? But this is a common mistake in church renovations and building of new churches. They think it makes the altar look closer to the laity, but in fact, it hides the altar altogether.
I recommend that the main sanctuary be four to five steps higher than the pews. And that there be a more spacious area in front of the altar, then the altar raised two to three steps higher than that space.
Just my two cents.
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