Softly and Tenderly: The Altar: A Place to Encounter God

To thousands of people, the beautiful hymn Softly and Tenderly will always be associated with an altar, a place where an encounter with God marked a turning point in their lives. Where did the idea for an altar originate? Has it played a significant part in Christian experience over the centuries? Is its use valid today? Questions such as these sent the author on a search for answers.