5 - Churches - Role & Features

• Denomination - A branch of the Christian Church
• Church

  • The Church can mean all the Christians on earth - it refers to people
  • A Church can mean the place Christians worship. It refers to a building
• Roman Catholic Church -

  • About half of all Christians in the world belong to the Catholic Church
  • It is lead by the Pope who they believe has special authority from Jesus
  • Catholic worship is formal with lots of rituals
  • Leaders are called Priests. They cannot marry, or be women
• Anglican Church -

  • The Church of England is found in countries once part of the British Empire
  • The Anglican Church is led by the Archbishop of Canterbury
  • There is a broad diversity of views and forms of worship
  • Leaders are called vicars. They allow women to become priests and marry
• Church in Wales -

  • The Church in Wales is the Anglican Church in Wales
  • It is led by the Archbishop of Wales and has the diversity of the Anglican Church
• Nonconformists Churches -

  • Nonconformist Churches are Protestant Churches that protested about the Catholic Church and refused to conform to the ways of the Anglican Church
  • In Wales, these are independent, Baptists, Methodists and Pentecostals
  • Leaders are called pastors who can be men or women, and can marry
  • Nonconformists call their place of worship chaples
• Altar - Table at front where bread and wine are blessed. It is a reminder of the death of Jesus and a focal point fir worship
• Font - Bowl for holding water at a baptism. It is near the door to show baptism is the 'doorway' into the church and is a reminder of having sins washed away
• Pulpit - Raised platform for vicar to speak sermons from. It is a reminder of the importance of preaching God's word
• Lectern - Reading desk for the Bible. It is an Eagle on a globe showing that God's word must be taken all over the world
• Differences in Buildings - Shape -

  • Catholics and Anglican Churches - the shape of a cross to remind the death of Jesus.
  • Nonconformist - Rectangular with a balcony to fit more people in
• Differences in Buildings - Focus -

  • Catholic and Anglican - Look at altar to remind of death of Jesus
  • Nonconformist - Look at pulpit to remind people to preach God's word
• Differences in Buildings - Font -

  • Catholic and Anglican - Have a font to Christen infants
  • Nonconformist - Have a baptistery to baptise adults
• Differences in Buildings - Decoration

  • Catholic and Anglican - Very decorated to respect God
  • Nonconformist - Very plain so no distractions in worship