Architecture, Liturgy and Ministry

Reformation History: 

Reformation History Architecture, Liturgy & Ministry

The Church in Post-Roman Britain: 

The Church in Post-Roman Britain In the early 5 th Century communications with Rome were cut. Power and cultural vacuum in south and east - filled by pagan Germanic migrants. In north and west a new distinctive Christian culture developed – The Celtic tradition. Worship did not revolve around church buildings, but was based outside in the glory of God’s creation. The Celtic church was ‘Missionary’ with ‘monks’ travelling throughout the countryside preaching as they went.

Anglo-Saxon Times: 

Anglo-Saxon Times During the later part of the 6 th Century and 7 th Century, we start to see the emergence of simple Stone Church building – small single room with small windows and a Stone Altar . In the north and west Celtic Christianity flourished. Rome began evangelising from the south and east. Pope Gregory sent a band of 40 monks led by Augustine of Canterbury to preach the gospel to the heathen English. (597) Augustine died in 604, by then Roman Christian influence extended over Kent and Essex . Synod of Whitby - 663.

The Lindisfarne Gospels: 

The Lindisfarne Gospels The Lindisfarne Gospels , are one of the most magnificent manuscripts of the early Middle Ages, was written and decorated at the end of the 7th century by the monk Eadfrith , who became Bishop of Lindisfarne in 698 and died in 721.

The Norman Conquest: 

The Norman Conquest After the Norman Conquest in 1066, Christian traditions were brought more into line with the western Church (Rome). The small Saxon churches were extended and decorated during the Norman Period. Many of our great cathedrals are largely the work of the Normans. In parish churches the windows were largely unglazed, but the walls were highly decorated with elaborate patterns and images of saints. Most churches now had a single priest working in them; either a Rector or a Vicar . What’s the difference? In 1247, the General Council of Lyons laid down a requirement that a parish priest must be not less the 25 years old, be well educated, of good character and must live in the benefice!

PowerPoint Presentation: 

A typical 12 th Century church with apsidal c hancel and north a isle

PowerPoint Presentation: 

A typical 14 th Century church with screened c hancel, chantry chapel and south a isle

The 15th Century: 

The 15 th Century By the mid-15 th Century (just before the Reformation), the parish church has undergone considerable enlargement and change in appearance. The whole building is lofty and filled with light from the high clerestory windows. A north aisle has been built. The Chancel has been enlarged and is separated from the Nave by a screen . A Guild Chapel dedicated to Our Lady has been added alongside the Chancel. The Chantry Chapel has its own priest who says Mass for the repose of the soul of a wealthy donor who left money to build the chapel and pay the priest. The High Altar is against the wall at the east end. The whole building is a riot of colour and decoration.

PowerPoint Presentation: 

The interior of a typical 15 th Century Parish Church

PowerPoint Presentation: 

The ceiling and clerestory of a typical 15 th Century Parish Church

PowerPoint Presentation: 

St Alban’s Abbey Waltham Abbey – Medieval ‘Doom’ Painting

St Teilo's Church + Cardiff : 

St Teilo's Church + Cardiff The building was originally situated outside Pontarddulais, near Swansea, and built in stages, from around 1100 to 1520. A carved stone found inside the church walls has been dated by experts to be between from 600-800 C.E., suggesting that Christian worship had been taking place there for a very long time. Over the years, as the population grew in the area – which meant more worshippers - and funds – the church was rebuilt and extended. In 1984 in was moved stone by stone to St Fagan’s National History Museum, Cardiff

PowerPoint Presentation: 

In the early 1980’s patches of colour were noticed showing through the plaster on the interior walls. These turned out to be amazing medieval wall paintings. Several layers of wall paintings were discovered. The earliest date from about 1350 and the most recent from 1790. By the summer of 1984 the Church had no roof and was due to be dismantled. The wall paintings were carefully removed before this work started. The rewards were breath-taking: over 15 square metres of late medieval wall paintings were uncovered!

Ministry Prior To The Reformation: 

Ministry Prior To T he Reformation Very Hierarchical; Exclusively Male; 5 Minor Orders; Three-fold Orders of Deacon, Priest and Bishop Then another layer of Archbishops, Cardinals, and finally the Pope. The laity simply attended !

Ministry After The Reformation: 

Ministry After The Reformation Less Hierarchical; Still Exclusively Male; Three-fold Orders of Deacon, Priest and Bishop; Retained Archbishops; Reigning Monarch head of the Church ; The laity still attended !

Liturgy Prior To The Reformation: 

Liturgy Prior To T he Reformation Celebrated in Latin ; East Facing; Elaborate Vestments and ceremonial; A Library of books needed for each Service; Communion for the Laity very rare; The Chalice withheld; Seen as ‘sacrifice’ being offered to God the Father; Transubstantiation ; Private Masses with no congregation.

Liturgy After The Reformation: 

Liturgy After The Reformation

Reforms Under Edward Vl: 

Reforms Under Edward Vl Images in churches were to be dismantled; stained glass, shrines, statues were defaced or destroyed; roods and often their lofts and screens were cut down, bells were taken down; vestments were prohibited and either burned or sold; church plate was to be melted down or sold and the requirement of the clergy to be celibate was lifted; processions were banned; ashes and palms were prohibited. Chantries and masses for the dead were abolished completely. In 1550 stone altars were exchanged for wooden communion tables, a very public break with the past, as it changed the look and focus of church interiors. Outwardly, the destruction and removals for sale had changed the church forever. Many churches had concealed their vestments and their silver, and had buried their stone altars.

1552 Prayer Book: 

1552 Prayer Book The changes made in the 1552 prayer book were extensive: In the Eucharist, gone were the words Mass and altar ; the 'Lord have mercy' was interleaved into a recitation of the Ten Commandments and the Gloria was moved to the end of the service. The Eucharistic prayer was split in two so that Eucharistic bread and wine were shared immediately after the words of institution while its final element, the Prayer of Oblation, was moved, much changed, to a position after Communion, and was made optional with an alternative prayer of thanksgiving provided. The Elevation of the Host had been forbidden in 1549; all manual acts were now omitted. The Peace, at which in the early Church the congregation had exchanged a greeting, was removed altogether. Vestments such as the stole, chasuble and cope were no longer to be worn, but only a surplice.

Years of Religious Turmoil: 

Years of Religious Turmoil 1553, Mary I, becomes Queen and immediately sets about restoring Roman Catholicism. Protestants removed from Church Office. Many go into self imposed exile in Europe. Latin Mass restored and conservation clergy re-installed. Images, Stone Altars, Rood Screen, Statues, all ordered to be restored. Persecution and many burnings of protestants. Latimer, Ridley and Cranmer all burnt at the stake in Oxford. Mary dies in September 1558 and Elizabeth becomes Queen. Early in her reign Elizabeth re-establish the Church of England with herself as Supreme Governor. At the same time, a new Act of Uniformity was passed, which made attendance at church and the use of an adapted version of the 1552 Book of Common Prayer compulsory.

The Age Of Uniformity: 

The Age Of Uniformity