Oban - Cathedral Church of St John the Divine

St John's Altar Servers

Altar servers - those angelic boys flitting obediently around a priest on a Sunday morning. Does that describe the servers at St John's? You betcha it doesn't!

On the whole St John's servers are a mixed bunch but with one aim in mind - to serve God in their own appointed way. We currently comprise a head server, four other adults, one young adult, two juniors, and myself, the verger, serving on the altar in my professional capacity. We're constantly on the lookout for more servers and our situation is pretty desperate at the moment. Herewith then, somewhat of an advert for our work, such as you won't find in the Cathedral newsletter.

Altar servers are quite literally servants of the sanctuary, performing all the little backs and forths, and handling of the sacred vessels on the altar and in the chancel which the logistics of the service demand. Our work crosses and meets that of others - especially my own as verger and sacristan - and basically, we're there to make it easier for the celebrant to do his work and support others who are worshipping in the sanctuary with us. At St John's, we're out on the High Altar at every main Sunday service, festal Eucharists, and other services throughout the year. We wear albs and girdles, with the Servers Guild members wearing their guild crosses. Ideally, we would have a crucifer (in a tunicle if the vestment set permits), accompanied by two acolytes and a bookbearer. A thurifer comes wafting in (literally) about four times a year. Four of us are members of the Scottish Guild of Servers - less of a servers' "union", more of a countrywide lay order and organisation to encourage, guide, and serve the servers.

That's our work and appearance on the surface, but it's the behind-the-scenes stories which enliven a St John's server's work - and oh if the congregation only knew what happens behind the scenes!

We can tell stories of spilt thuribles, hot water bottles sneaked into the chancel at a cold evening service, a young deacon fighting to get a chasuble over his head without taking his glasses off, surreptitious messages passed to the choir, or visiting celebrants "doing their own thing" to the shock and confusion of us all. You certainly have to keep on your toes as an altar server, but once you know the rules, you can usually bluff your way out of mistakes by keeping your dignity and pretending it was all meant to happen anyway. In fact the best servers are often brilliant actors!

One thing we don't act, however, is our reverence - young or 'old', experienced or new, I think any altar server has been touched by the Holy Spirit at some point in their work.

Its God we're serving out there on St John's altar, as do servers on every other church or cathedral altar. Angelic boys probably flit obediently round a priest in a church or cathedral somewhere in the world on a Sunday morning. Here at St John's, though, we're ordinary congregants doing our bit, reverently and professionally. And our reward this side of heaven? Join us and you'll find out!

Lindsay Campbell, Dip GV.

Page updated 20 April 2003