Choose two different Christian denominations - Select and explain the main features of their places of worship and compare and contrast the ways in which the features are used in worship.

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                Graham Thornton

GCSE Religious Studies Coursework

Places of Worship

Part A

Choose two different Christian denominations.  Select and explain the main features of their places of worship and compare and contrast the ways in which the features are used in worship.

Since it began, the Christian Church has split many times, into lots of different denominations.  The different denominations believe and practice certain things in different ways. However, they all believe in Christ so they are all the same religion, Christianity.  What the different denominations believe determines how they worship, and how they worship determines the layout of their church.  I am going to compare the Orthodox Churches and the Anglican Church.

In Orthodox Churches, the building itself is split into two parts by a big screen covered with icons of Mary, Jesus and the Saints. It is called an “iconostasis”.  The iconostasis symbolizes the divide between earth (the main part of the church where the congregation stand) and heaven (the sanctuary – behind the iconostasis).

        In the centre of the iconostasis are the Royal Doors, behind which there is a curtain.  The opening of the Royal Doors and the drawing back of the curtain symbolise God opening the way to heaven for man to approach and be united with him.        

The Orthodox Church uses liturgical worship, which means they follow a set pattern or plan.  In a service of Holy Communion, this includes many things.  

        The priest comes through the doors at the Lesser Entrance, when the book of the gospel is brought through and the gospel is read in the main part of the church.  Then at the Greater Entrance, the bread and wine are taken to the altar for the consecration, (the door is shut and the curtains closed during the consecration).  Later the doors are re-opened and the consecrated bread and wine are brought to the people.

        The Royal Doors and Iconostasis are a focal point in an Orthodox church; everyone can see them all the time.

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        Lastly, the Orthodox Church has altars instead of Communion Tables because they believe that in the consecration, they are offering a sacrifice.  It is an offering of the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross represented in the bread and wine.

The Altar is the focal point of an Anglican church.  They have an altar because they use a liturgical pattern of worship, and because they believe that in the consecration, they are offering a sacrifice.  It is an offering of the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross represented in the bread and wine.  The altar is ...

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