Comparison on Roman Catholic and Methodist churches

GCSE Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)

Phaedra Robinson 11G

RS coursework – AO1

The two different denominations that I have chosen to compare are the Roman Catholic and the Methodist Churches. I have chosen these two denominations, as there are great differences in the emphasis of both. I have visited both St Michael and St John’s Roman Catholic church, and Trinity Methodist church, which has helped me highlight the main features in both.

St Michael and St John’s Roman Catholic church.

The main feature in the Catholic Church are the two altars, the lower one with the crucifix on it. Worship in the Roman Catholic Church follows a liturgy and is very formal. This is therefore, why there is so much emphasis on sacraments in the Catholic Church.

Altars are places of sacrifices. Jesus sacrificed himself on the cross for the sins of all mankind. He is the paschal lamb that was sacrificed in the temple at Jerusalem, and the crucifix reminds Catholics of this (the passion). It is a representation of Christ on the cross to remind people that Jesus died on the cross to save us from our sins.

In the Roman Catholic Church, the altar is in an area called the sanctuary, where mass is celebrated. The altar is one of the most important symbols for the presence of Christ in a Roman Catholic Church, as it represents Jesus as a priest, offering us to share the meal that he offers to the Apostles at the Last Supper.

In St Michael and St John’s, like in most Roman Catholic churches, on the altar sits a tabernacle, which contains the consecrated host and is shown to the congregation during a special ceremony called the Benediction. The tabernacle colours change to represent the time of year in the churches year. For most of the year, it is covered in a green cloth, representing the trinity. As Father Wareing told us, just as important is the sanctuary lamp, which is a perpetual flame, representing the presence of Christ, and showing believers that his body resides inside the tabernacle.

The Lady Chapel in St Michael and St John’s church is to the right of the altar, and is in a separate area to the rest of the church. The Lady Chapel is used to pray for the Virgin Mary. Roman Catholics focus on the example she set in her life while praying. They may also ask her to pray on their behalf.

Trinity Methodist church

In the Methodist Church, however, one of the main features is a cross, not a crucifix. In Trinity Methodist church, it was almost certainly the main feature, as it was ...

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Trinity Methodist church

In the Methodist Church, however, one of the main features is a cross, not a crucifix. In Trinity Methodist church, it was almost certainly the main feature, as it was very large and positioned on the back wall, behind the communion table. This is what strikes you when you first walk through the door. The cross is used in worship, as it makes worshippers focus and think about the resurrection of Christ.

The emphasis within the Methodist Church is on Liturgy, rather than sacraments. Therefore the pulpit is one of the main features here, as this is where the minister addresses the congregation, and the word of God is read. The pulpit is in a high position so that the minister can see everyone and they can see him/her, and they are easily heard. In Trinity Methodist church, the pulpit was unusually off to one side. In Methodist churches, it is expected that the pulpit would be central, as the emphasis is on the word of God. The minister may use the pulpit to deliver the sermon to the congregation during the service.

Methodist churches are usually rectangular and quite small, in order for the congregation to hear the word of God clearly. The windows are generally clear instead of being stained glass, designed to be able to read more easily. There are often two organs and two choir stalls, as there is an emphasis on the music, because this, just like preaching, is the word of God.

Instead of an altar, there is a small communion table, which is used for bread and wine during the Lord’s Supper. The bread and non-alcoholic wine are kept under a cloth on the table, not a tabernacle. In front of the communion table, there is a communion rail, where Methodists kneel to receive the bread and wine from the minister. Methodists believe that God is revealed through the preached word, rather than just through Sacraments like Holy Communion. This is also shown by the fact that Methodist churches only have Holy Communion (or Lord’s supper as it is called in Methodist Churches) once a month, whereas in the Roman Catholic Church, they have it every Sunday.

The altar is the focal point in Roman Catholic services. Candles are lit on the altar at the beginning of each service. This is a reminder that Christ, ‘the light of the world’, is present during the service. Roman Catholics believe that salvation comes through the bread and the wine. Therefore, consecration of the bread and the wine is a central part of the service.

The Roman Catholics use a crucifix instead of a cross, because they focus on the passion of Christ, rather than the resurrection. It is a representation of Christ on the cross to remind people that Jesus died on the cross to save us from our sins.

Roman Catholics believe that transubstantiation takes place during mass, once the bread and the wine have been consecrated. The priest consecrates the bread and the wine to the congregation. The bread and the wine symbolically become the body and blood of Christ. The tabernacle symbolically reminds Catholics of the Ark of the Covenant, which was used by the Israelites to store the Ten Commandments. The Eucharist is so important to Christians because at the Last Supper, just before his death, Jesus passed around bread and wine and told his disciples to do this in remembrance of him. The priest hands out the bread and wine because it is believed that the priest represents Jesus, therefore he is mimicking Jesus’ actions at the Last Supper. The Eucharist is a biblical sacrament, which is why Christians see it as very important.

There is a separate area called the Lady Chapel, which is dedicated to the Virgin Mary. This is because the Virgin Mary is an important figure in the Roman Catholic Church. Mary, as the mother of Jesus, is believed to have been taken to heaven when she died (the assumption). When Christians pray to the Virgin Mary, they think about what she did during her life, and look to follow her as an example.

In the Methodist church, the fact that the cross is empty is to remind people that Jesus rose from the dead, because Methodist churches focus more on the resurrection rather than the crucifixion. They celebrate the fact that Jesus rose from the dead, as this emphasises the fact that Jesus was the Son of God. An empty cross helps Christians to concentrate on the rewards of repeating Jesus’ footsteps and helping others. They believe that by following Jesus, they will receive an eternal life in heaven with God.

The pulpit is used a lot in the Methodist Church, because in the Methodist Church, the emphasis is on God. The Methodist Church believes that the most important part of any service is listening to the word of God. They focus on liturgy rather than the sacraments.

There is no altar in the Methodist churches, as the Methodist church does not believe that Christ’s sacrifice is repeated during the service of Holy Communion. The Methodist Church believes that Holy Communion is just a memorial to strengthen faith and remind worshippers of the last supper. The bread and non-alcoholic wine are kept under a cloth on the table, not a tabernacle, because Methodists believe that the bread and wine just symbolise the body and blood of Jesus, rather than actually become it.