The sanctuary lamp is a continuously burning red or white candle to signal when the tabernacle contains consecrated elements i.e. the Blessed Sacrament. Sanctuary lamps are only found in Roman Catholic churches, as other denominations do not see the need for a tabernacle. The sanctuary lamp is always found at the back end of the church, in the sanctuary, behind the altar. St. Cuthbert’s sanctuary lamp is located here.
Confessional boxes, or confessionals, are basically small box shaped rooms in which people may receive the sacrament of Reconciliation by confessing their sins to the priest and asking for forgiveness. The priest is usually behind a screen of some sort, so that the person may remain anonymous when talking to him. There is no strict rule as to where they must be situated in a church, although more often than not, they are found at either side of the church, in front of the sanctuary. Confessionals can be found in most Catholic churches, and in St. Cuthbert’s, they are located at both sides of the building in front of the sanctuary. Since the Second Vatican Council however, people have been able to confess their sins without going into a cubicle, and so some modern Catholic churches do not have them at all.
The stations of the cross are basically scenes depicting the events leading up to Christ’s death. There are 14 stations, although some churches may also include a fifteenth station depicting Christ’s Resurrection. They are usually carved from wood or stone and only appear in Roman Catholic churches. In RC churches, they are arranged along the walls of the church beside the pews. Stations of the cross help the congregation to reflect on the events leading up to Christ’s death. In St. Cuthbert’s Church, the stations were carved by the famous sculptor Eric Gill, and the only other stations he produced are situated at Westminster Cathedral.
The font is basically a large ‘basin’ of holy water, which plays a part in the ritual of the sacrament of Baptism. Most Christian churches have fonts although Baptist churches prefer total immersion pools instead. In a Roman Catholic church, the font is usually located near the door of the church, although it may also be found in the middle of the church. In St. Cuthbert’s, the font is located in an area to the left of the main entrance. It is normally made of stone but may also be portable, so that it is out of the way when it is not being used for Baptism. In both St. Cuthbert’s and St. Barnaba’s, the font was located near the entrance.
Stained glass windows are a common feature in churches of all denominations, and exist simply to add an extra level of beauty to the church building. They serve no real purpose apart from decorative, but sometimes depict bible scenes or saints, which may be a site of prayer for those to which the depicted scenes or saints hold special significance. Flowers are another decorative feature found in many churches, which help to bring vibrant colour and beauty to an often-minimalist church interior.
Statues can be found in most Christian churches, and serve a mainly decorative purpose, although they can serve as a site of prayer, depending on whom the statue represents. There may be statues of Jesus, Mary, various saints, or other important Christian figures, which Christians may use as a visual aid whilst praying.
The stoup is a small bowl of holy water that people may bless themselves with as they enter or leave the church building. People will often dip two fingers in and make the Sign of the Cross, and for this reason, they are always situated beside or near the main entrance. Stoups are unique to Roman Catholic churches.
Candles are a common feature found in churches of all denominations. They can be found anywhere in the church building, although candles which serve a special purpose usually have a more specific location. They can help to create a holy atmosphere in the church building. In Christian churches, there will be two altar candles, one on either side of the altar. In Roman Catholic churches, there will be a Paschal Candle, which usually stands behind the altar to the right hand side.
Lych Gates only occur outside C of E church buildings, such as St. Barnaba’s church. It is usually placed at the entrance to the church grounds, built into the perimeter wall, and is usually made of wood. As well as drawing attention to the church entrance, it symbolizes the ‘gateway’ between the normal world and the spiritual world. It tends to play a larger part during funeral services.
B) Explain the significance of these features and furnishings for the worshipper and how they reflect and assist belief.
Christians gather together to worship in order to express their Christianity as a community. A church building provides many aids to worship, as well as the opportunity to receive Holy Communion. In terms of group worship, a church building, no matter which denomination, provides many features and furnishings to assist and reflect belief.
In most Christian churches, except in some Protestant denominations, the back wall of the sanctuary will face east in the direction of the rising sun, to symbolize new birth and resurrection. East is also the direction of the holy city of Jerusalem, considered to be the birthplace of Christianity. Anglican church buildings are often cross-shaped to symbolize the cross that Jesus died on. Traditional Roman Catholic churches were also built in the shape of a cross, although many modern buildings are circular or semi – circular. Modern church buildings, with the congregation close to the altar, display the fact that everybody is equal in the eyes of God.
The altar represents the table used at the Last Supper. It is always the main focal point in a Roman Catholic church building. It faces east, as this is where the sun rises, a symbol of new life i.e. the Christian belief in the Resurrection. The altar is the focus for the Liturgy of the Eucharist, which the priest offers up to God on behalf of the people. Before the Second Vatican Council, the altar was right up against the east wall, and the priest said Mass with his back to the people. The remoteness of the altar was supposed to convey the holiness of God to the people.
The word ‘altar’ reminds Christians of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross because, in ancient times, an altar was a table where a sacrifice was offered. During the Mass, the priest ‘recreates’ the events of the Last Supper, by consecrating bread and wine to make it holy, just as Jesus did. The congregation then shares this spiritual meal in the same spirit with which they would share a meal with family or friends.
The crucifix is a symbol of the sacrifice Jesus made for us on the cross, and it is there as a permanent reminder of God’s unwavering love for us all. The crucifix is placed above the altar to remind us that the Mass is both a sacrifice (hence the crucifix) and a meal (hence the altar).
The lectern exists as a means for the priest to share the Word of God with the congregation during Mass. It is the focus for the Liturgy of the Word, which consists of mainly bible readings and gospels. In High Anglican Church services, the priest delivers the Gospel reading from the middle of the congregation, but gives other readings from the lectern. The Bible plays an enormous part in worship, as it is considered to have a divine origin, and contains the Word of God, which can help a Christian to fulfill their duties throughout all aspects of life. In Protestant Churches, the lectern has a carving of an eagle, which reminds Christians of the prophet Isaiah’s words in the Old Testament; in which he said that those who hope in the Lord “will soar on wings like an eagle’ (Isaiah 40:31).
The pulpit is necessary for the priest to stand on whilst delivering his sermon, so that the entire congregation can see and hear him. It raises the priest above the people, to show his authority, and to symbolise the fact that God is also watching over us from above.
The tabernacle, although nothing more than a container for the Blessed Sacrament, also has significance in terms of worship. Just as the walls of the tabernacle surround the Blessed Sacrament, the tabernacle itself also symbolizes the holiness that surrounds God’s presence. Due to its sacred contents, the tabernacle is an obvious focus for prayer. The sanctuary lamp exists to signal God’s presence in the church building, and is lit when the tabernacle contains consecrated elements in the from of the Blessed Sacrament.
Stations of the cross help Roman Catholics remember the events leading up to Christ’s death on the cross. They are often used on Fridays and during Lent when we remember his death.
The font contains holy water used during Baptism, and in RC churches, it is often found near the entrance of the church. This is to symbolize the fact that Baptism is the ‘door’ into the Church, and that the newly baptised person is at the start of their spiritual journey. Some churches however, prefer to situate the font in the middle of the church; to symbolize the fact the newly baptized person is being taken straight into the heart of the Christian family. This family will then take on the responsibility of developing and nurturing the person’s spiritual life.
Candles are found around churches of all denominations. They symbolize the light of God, and play a large part in Christian worship. The smoke that rises upwards symbolizes our prayers going up to heaven, whilst the white wax symbolizes cleansing and purity, as does the flame itself. The altar candles represent the fact that Christ is the light of the world. Christians may also light candles as a prayer for a loved one.
The holy water contained in a stoup symbolizes the new life and cleansing that a person experiences when they attend Mass in God’s house. As people enter or leave the church building, they have the opportunity to bless themselves with holy water, by dipping two fingers in and making the Sign of the Cross.
A statue of the Virgin Mary is almost always found in a Roman Catholic church building. Mary is very important to Roman Catholics, as they believe she entered the world without original sin and left it without experiencing death i.e. the belief in the Assumption, which is the belief that she was taken up to heaven as body and soul. Statues of Our Lady are often used as a site of prayer and reflection, and many people will pray through Our Lady for help and guidance in their lives. She is considered by Roman Catholics to be a perfect role model for Christians, as she devoted her life to others and never questioned God’s judgement.
Flowers are also an obvious symbol of nature and new life, as well as the beauty of God’s creation. They also serve as a reminder of the fact that it is through God that we too will bloom and flourish in our spiritual and daily lives.
C) “You do not need to go to church to be a Christian.” Do you agree? Give reasons to support your answer and show you have thought about different points of view.
I agree with this statement. I believe that it is possible to be a practicing Christian and not attend a weekly church service, as long as there is a genuine reason why you cannot, and as long as you fulfill all the other requirements to live a Christian life. It is a Christian’s duty to receive Holy Communion once a week if possible, and this is almost always achieved through going to church. Church is considered the traditional way of worshipping alongside other Christians, but if a Christian decides to worship another way, then their views should be respected and accepted. If a person is physically unable to attend weekly Mass e.g. bedridden, then it would still be possible for them to receive Holy Communion, even outside of church, through a visiting priest for example.
There is much more to being a Christian than believing in God and going to Church. A true Christian must agree with every statement contained in the Creed, attend a weekly service (if possible) and receive Holy Communion, and try to follow the Ten Commandments. Therefore, it is not possible to be a Christian if you do not mix and worship along side other Christians regularly, and church is a perfect opportunity to do this, though it is not the only way. Imagine a Chess Club has a meeting place, where enthusiastic Chess Players get together once a week to compete and discuss strategies and celebrate their Chess achievements. Now, to be able to call yourself a real Chess Player, must you attend these meetings once a week at this Chess Club, or can you simply play Chess with your friends in your own time? Surely the club members cannot be considered superior to you and your friends, just because they meet together to play their game in a special building. Whether you play Chess outside a club, or whether you are part of a club, there is still one aspect that the two ‘sides’ share in common; a devotion to Chess. Now substitute Chess for Christianity and the Chess Club for a church. It becomes clear that a Christian who ‘opts out’ of church can be just as good and devoted a Christian as a regular church-goer. If you were to take the view that church-going Christians were ‘better’ than non-church-going Christians, would that not be discrimination?
Christianity revolves very much around unity, and so it is not possible to practice Christianity by yourself. The Christian Church is often described as a ‘family’, because Christians - like a family - love each other and share common beliefs. In the Catholic denomination, the world ‘catholic’ means ‘worldwide’ and this is just one example of unity and the family-like bond between all Christians. It is not possible to celebrate Christianity by yourself, as this would contradict its very definition.
Church is simply an opportunity for Christians to worship along side each other and receive Holy Communion, whilst in the presence of God. A person unable to come to church does not receive this opportunity, but may still follow the requirements to live a Christian life by other means. For example, a bedridden person could still receive Holy Communion, provided they are visited by the local priest, and can still worship along side other Christians, although not in church. In fact, a priest can celebrate Mass, as long as there is at least one other Christian present. So in theory, and under special circumstances, a person could still receive Holy Communion and celebrate Mass once a week outside of church, as long as a priest is willing to make a special visit. This would be very unusual of course, but by taking the question very literally, it is possible to be a Christian and not go to church. If a Christian decided to opt out of going to Mass, I believe it would still be possible for them to live a Christian life as long as they still follow common Christian values. Just because they do not express their Christianity as a part of a church community should be no reason for them not be able to call themselves Christian. After all, a church building is nothing more than a meeting place, and, in theory at least, it is still possible to be a Christian and never even step foot into a church.
Approaching this question another point of view, it could be said that a true Christian must receive the sacraments of baptism and confirmation, and although these are ‘one-off’ sacraments, they should only be given in a church (except in emergences e.g. fear of death etc). As a result, if there is no physical reason to stop a Christian going to church to receive these essential sacraments, then they should attend a church service to receive them in the traditional manner.
I conclude that it is possible to be a Christian and not go to church. The bottom line for being a Christian really is living your life by Christian values, such as respecting the Ten Commandments (particularly the 2 Great Commandments), and agreeing with the statements made in the Creed. If a person fails to do the above then they cannot be considered truly Christian, even if they are a very nice person. Even going to Mass means nothing if a person does not respect the Commandments or believe the Creed.