View source for Side altar

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[[Image:Kapucijnenkerk.linkerbeuk.jpg|thumbnail|right|200px|A bye-altar in the Kapucijnenkerk; Ostend, Belgium. Notice the high altar in the background.]]

A '''side-altar''' or '''bye-altar''' is an [[altar]] that is subordinate to the central or high altar in a church. The term is generally applied to altars situated in bays of the [[nave]], [[transept]]s, etc.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|url=http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03092d.htm|title=Bye-Altar|encyclopedia=[[Catholic Encyclopedia]]}}</ref>  Side-altars may be recessed in a [[side-chapel]], or simply built against a main [[aisle]] wall.   

Before the [[Liturgical reforms of Pope Paul VI|liturgical reforms]] arising from the [[Second Vatican Council]], separate [[Mass (liturgy)|Masses]] may be celebrated simultaneously by other priests at side-altars, even as there is an ongoing Mass at the high altar.  

==References==
{{reflist}}

==See also==
*[[Lady chapel]]

{{Catholic Encyclopedia|wstitle=Altar Side}}

[[Category:Church architecture]]


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