PRS - Paper 2 - Topic 3 - Worship and Practice

Question 1

Churches - External features

Answer 1

• Majority of cathedrals and great churches are cruciform in shape, with the nave crossed by the transept
• Churches also often point east/west with external emphasis upon the west front, normally the main entrance, and internal emphasis upon the eastern end so that the congregation faces the direction of the coming of Christ. Not every church or cathedral maintains a strict east/west axis, but even in those that do not, the terms East End and West Front are used

Question 2

Churches - significance

Answer 2

• It is a place to meet, making it possible for communities to worship together
• It hosts rites of passage, such as baptisms, marriages and funerals.
• For a building to become a church, it must be consecrated, meaning it becomes a holy place, where people may feel closer to God.
• Some see it as a physical expression of faith, a reflection of Christian devotion to God

Question 3

Churches - internal features

Answer 3

Altar: seen as the holiest part, it is where the eucharist is often practised.

Font: used to baptise babies, welcoming them into the Church.

Pews: where the congregation sits and listens to preaching or readings.

Pulpit (usually raised) is where sermons may be delivered from.

Question 4

Contrasting churches - grand

Answer 4

For some, the building itself is very important because it is a place which has been set apart as the house of God and should be treated with great reverence and respect. Also, as a sign of devotion to God, the building should be produced with materials of good quality and finished to a high standard.

Question 5

Contrasting churches - simple

Answer 5

Other Christians believe that God is present in all places and that His presence in the church should not be regarded as special or different from His presence in someone’s house. Therefore, it is not important for the building or the furnishings to be of expensive materials.

Question 6

Contrasting churches - shared beliefs

Answer 6

• The Church is primarily a people rather than a building. In New Testament times there were no churches like we have today, so when the word ‘church’ is used in the Bible it always refers to people.
• A church building is important because worship would be more difficult without it. As Christianity expanded, whole houses were set aside as meeting places and eventually it was possible to have purpose-built buildings.