The altar is the most important item in the church. In medieval churches it was usually in the form of an ornate stone slab. The altar is a very symbolic item and represents the tomb of Christ or the table at the last supper (Eucharist table). However, after the Dissolution in the 16th century many stone altars were removed and broken up. They were usually replaced by a wooden communion table which could then be brought from the east end of the chancel closer to the nave. The altar in Crowland is relatively modern and is adorned with an altar frontal of coloured fabric that is changed to suit the different periods of the church calendar.