When you visit a church, take a compass. When you arrive at a church look up to see a weather vane if there is one. This was for pilgrims who needed to know the direction and weather for their next walk.
Walk around the outside of the building. You may see a covered lychgate some 40 paces from the church door. When the coffin arrived on the carriage, the coffin was removed here and placed on the shoulders of the pallbearers. Take a walk around the graveyard if there is one. In the past, Christians were buried with their feet to the East. On the last day, when Jesus comes in majesty, the Christians will stand to face the rising sun. Priests were buried with their feet to the West so that, when they stand, they will face their flock. The northern side of the church is a cold and dark spot where the unbaptised were often buried. Because of limited space, this is sometimes not possible.
Enter the church. The doorway is often a smaller door cut into a larger one that is fully open on special occasions. As you enter, there may be some blessed water in a stoup to bless yourself. Then, you see a baptismal font. This sometimes has a special cover to protect the holy place of initiation. The cover is sometimes tied to the roof so it can be raised with a rope when needed. Underfoot, or on the walls may be memorials. The main part of the church is the nave. If there is a light at the altar, the blessed sacrament is present. People might be at prayer in the church. Please be respectful.
Sometimes, the altar cloth is changed to a different colour depending on holy days or times of the church year. Statues are often completely covered during Lent and during the 4 Sundays of Advent, a candle is lit for each week prior to Christ’s birth.
Look for special chairs on the altar, these would be for the priest. Some very special chairs are reserved for the Bishop in a Cathedral. The choir has stalls between the altar and congregation, usually facing each other. Stained glass is one of the great artworks of the church, and at reaching aid, and windows have been lost from war damage. They are best seen when the sun is shining and the church is unlit inside. Also at night, the coloured glass can look very magical. Sadly, many tall buildings or trees can obscure the beauty of the light shining through the glass. Each year, more windows are obscured. Look out for the 14 stations of the cross, also special artworks and teaching and meditation al aids. One stands at each station from 1 - 14 to honour the last days of the torture and crucifixion of Jesus.
The lectern often has is image of an eagle and from here the gospel is read. The eagle represents St John who is said to have written the Book of Revelation. Other gospel writers are Matthew, Mark and Luke. They are shown as a man, a lion and an ox and these 4 in ancient times stood at the 4 directions and were mentioned in the Old Testament too. Patriarchs and saints are also recognised by their symbols. Those who built churches for instance, hold a church, those who wrote, hold a book, those who were priests wear their colours, Dominicans for instance wear black, Cistercians, white.
If you can, find out if there is a crypt that you can visit. Some are the oldest part of the church, remaining intact when churches have been rebuilt. Sometimes, there is a lady chapel, devoted to the mother of Jesus and sometimes along the side dials but other small autos devoted to a specific saint or matter. In Roman Catholic churches, there is often the scent of incense. Catholic angels usually are human images with wings. In CofE they are baby faces with wings. In CofE churches, you often see a memorial to the war dead, and tributes to historical people rather than saints. You might see virtues of prudence, patience, kindness, etcetera, honoured in CofE churches.
Written by Wendy Stokes for the Parish Magazine St Peter & St Paul, North Chingford.
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