The Roman Catholic Church that was visited was built in 1932 and was of a typical style of many buildings built at that time.
Thomas Robbins M5D: R.S. Coursework Essay: Describe the main features of the Roman Catholic Church and its furnishings (section A).
Introduction (outside of church):
The Roman Catholic Church that was visited was built in 1932 and was of a typical style of many buildings built at that time: it was red brick but with bigger grey stone ‘bricks’ at the vertices but what perhaps distinguishes its significance than to any other building, apart from its shape, were the elaborations and the lavish decorations on the south side of the church (the side from which we entered the church). There were grey stone pillars of a Corinthian nature supporting a large triangular slab similar to that of the end of the Parthenon in Athens but with a cross carved upon the centre. Above this triangle, embellished with small carved stone pillars (one either side), there was an image of the monstrance which holds the Blessed Sacrament during Mass. The monstrance was labelled in the centre with the letters “IHS” but the meaning of this will be described later.
Stoups:
Once inside the church there were two sets of stoups, one on the where we came in and one on a another entrance made of a rusty coloured marble jutting out of a slight alcove and a rectangular glass dish. These “stoups” contained holy water (consecrated water that would be used in baptism and confirmation) which you would dip your hand into and make the sign of the cross across your body.
Font:
Ahead of the entrance and past the stoups there was the font which was spherical and the main body was made of a brown shade of marble and stood on a dark brown marble plinth. The font stood on five small marble pillars, one central one and four around the outside, the central one was of the same colour as the rest of the font but the other four were of black marble. All these miniature pillars rested on a circular base the same colour as the main body of the font and made of marble. On top of the font which stood about four foot high was a brass with handles to make lifting the lid more easily achieved.
Altar, Tabernacle, Monstrance and Pews:
The church, which like most was elongated from west to east, had quite dark wooden pews along the centre with an isle about five feet wide. At the end of the isle there was the altar which was housed under a plaster cast dome supported by seven pillars which were between about nine and ten feet high. The sanctuary area was separated from the rest of the church by this dome, known as the Cupola which had a jade green underside. On the altar was a large solid block and on the front there were carved into five pillars and four arches. On top of the altar at the front there was the monstrance which was a just over a foot high gold finished very ornate cross. In the centre of it where the lines of the crucifix converge it bore the letters “IHS”. Where it bore these letters there was a spherical bulge in the monstrance and on the back in this same place in relation to the cross there was a small door which when opened reveals a hollow: this was where the Blessed Sacrament was kept (in this case the bread) for the communion during a service (mass). Beneath the monstrance there was a reliquary: this is where the bones of a Saint were kept. Beyond the monstrance and the main altar was the tabernacle which was exalted on higher separate altar. The tabernacle was a rectangular brass safe with a small dome on top that contained the Blessed Sacrament (i.e. the bread – the wine was kept in the vestry). The bread was in a cyborian bowl which was quite a sizable deep bowl so to be able to handle the Eucharist on Sundays and other large masses. This bowl usually has to ‘cater’ for about four hundred and fifty maximum. During the week though a smaller and flatter bowl used was called the pattern, this bowl was used as there are a lot less people who go to church at this time because they are at work. The Tabernacle was about one and a half feet tall and almost one foot wide and there was a white piece of cloth hanging over the front of it with a red cross embroidered into it and behind this cloth there was an image of the monstrance. The Blessed Sacrament is usually not consumed totally during mass so to leave some for the sick which receive the sacrament from the priest who visits them in their own homes because they are not able to go to the service. This whole area (the altar and Cupola) which was set in an alcove is lit up by a sanctuary light to the left side of the altar and Cupola.
