Overview
The altar rail is a low barrier, sometimes ornate and usually made of stone, wood or metal in some combination, delimiting the chancel or the sanctuary and altar in a church, from the nave and other parts that contain the congregation. Often, a central gate or gap divides the line into two parts. Chancel rails are a very common, but not universal, feature of Catholic, Lutheran, Anglican, and Methodist churches. They are usually about 2 feet 6 inches (76 cm) high, with a padded step at the bottom, and designed so that the wider top of the rail can support the forearms or elbows of a kneeling person.