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The presbytery and High Altar

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The presbytery was separated from the monks’ choir at Roche by two steps. It was the centre of liturgical ritual, and the celebrants presided here during Mass. They occupied a stone seat, the sedilia, and the remains of this are visible in the western wall, to the right of the High Altar. A fourteenth-century piscina, where the sacred vessels were purified, and a credence table, where the cruets of wine and water were placed before their consecration and when not in use during the Mass, are also carved in this wall. The High Altar, the apex of the Church, was raised and visible to those in the monks’ choir, but would not have been seen by others.

Abbey church at Roche looking towards the site of the High Altar
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The side altars
Monks who were priests celebrated private masses at side altars. The Cistercians did not enforce the daily celebration of private masses but this became increasingly common, especially with the growing number of donors requesting foundation masses.

In her will of 1446 Matilda, countess of Cambridge, left one white vestment to Roche so that each week for seven years a monk would pray for her soul; he was to receive one penny a day for his work.

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