church

[paulz]

Is the church of england turning Catholic, or vice versa, or are the two merging? We went to see a personal friend who was moving from his present church to a new one. The service was littered with people crossing themselves, the vicar is now called a priest, and goes by the name of Father xxxxx. I don't mind; it's their show. Having had a church school start [5-11 years] when things like the creed & Lord's Prayer was drummed into us I find both have been re-written. This is not a complaint or moan, I'm just curious to know where it will all end up.

[Toglet]

There are various denominations within the C of E - it sounds as if you've hit upon a "High Church" one - verging on Anglo-Catholic. It can be extremely difficult finding a church where the services are as per the Book of Common Prayer.

[paulz]

Toglet - thanks for that. I remenber High CofE churches as a kid, all bells & incense [and very long services!]. It's certainly nothing like that, it just seemed to me a more C/catholic service than CofE. But then it's been a long while since I've been along for a "normal service" {usually Births, Weddings & funerals are my limit [or as a registrar mate calls it "Hatch, Match & Despatch"]

[RCP]

Although the very 'traditional' high church C of E churches do come across as being very similar to the Catholics I don't think any of them would believe in transubstantiation (sp.?) so there will always be a basic doctrinal difference. With the wealth of knowledge on this board though I could easily be proved wrong.

[RCP]

Einstein - I was going to say I genuflect to your superior knowledge, but I might offend somebody. Thanks for putting me straight. Incidentally, my wife is a Catholic but when I pressed her on the issue of whether she believed that she was partaking of the actual body & blood of Jesus during communion she looked at me pityingly and asked if anyone would believe that in this day & age!