For more than a 1000 years, the churches have been built in the form of a ship, as it represented our voyage through this world to our true homeland.
The captain/navigator, who was charged with directing the ship and its souls (passengers on ships also used to be counted by souls), was always found at the front of the ship to chart the course and make the adjustments necessary. He was courageous as he was also first to the fight and a prime target.
The priest and all of the people are directed in the same direction because we are in movement towards God.
