The altar is the holy table upon which we celebrate the Lord's Supper. it functions as both altar of sacrifice and banquet table for the Eucharist. The Cathedralís original main altar, installed in 1905 at a cost of $5,000, was constructed of Italian white marble with columns of Mexican onyx and had a central tower 25 feet high. The current altar is what remains of the original following the various renovations intended to simplify and refocus the sanctuary in accordance with the directives of Vatican Council II. The tabernacle was moved in 1972 from the altar to the side chapel, and in 2004 was restored to a central position behind the altar. Here the Blessed Sacrament is reserved for adoration. The sanctuary lamp serves as a sign of the Lord's presence in the Blessed Sacrament. The angels flanking the tabernacle are from the original 1905 altar.

The bishop's chair, or cathedra (from the Greek and Latin words for chair), is set to one side, at the front of the sanctuary. It is this chair which gives is the name Cathedral : the principal church of a diocese. The bishop presides from this seat in his cathedral church. He is the only one who may use it.

The lectern or ambo is used for proclaiming the Word of God, through readings from sacred scripture and for preaching.

Next to the ambo is a smaller lectern, used by the song leader.

On the left side of the sanctuary is the ambry, a niche in the wall containing three vessels of oil: the oil of catechumens, used to bless those preparing for baptism, the oil of the sick, used in the sacrament of Anointing those suffering from serious illness, and the oil of chrism, used in the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Orders (ordination as a priest or deacon).

The other item of note in the sanctuary is the large wall crucifix, the cross being the basic symbol of any Christian liturgical celebration.

The Church as Cathedral
The Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama was formed on 9 December 1969 from the Diocese of Mobile-Birmingham. The first bishop, the Most Rev. Joseph G. Vath, served until his death in 1987. His grave is in the courtyard on the west side of the Cathedral. He was succeeded by the Most Rev. Raymond J. Boland from 1988-1993. The Most Rev. David E. Foley, our current bishop, was installed in 1994 and his retirement was accepted in 2005.