Why did William Laud require communion tables to be railed off from congregations?

William Laud, as archbishop of Canterbury, required communion tables to be railed off from the congregation as part of his broader efforts to enforce outward uniformity, order, and ceremony within the church.

Laud was associated with a clerical group that opposed Puritanism and emphasized the continuity of the visible church. To him, these outward practices were necessary for true inward worship. By mandating that the communion table be placed at the east end of the chancel and railed off, he sought to restore a sense of reverence and sanctity to the space, aligning church services more strictly with the Book of Common Prayer. These reforms, which also included practices like bowing at the name of Jesus, were intended to combat the influence of religious radicals who viewed such changes as moves toward popery.1