Guess: is this church a protestant or Catholic church (picture)

[Tis_Bearself]

Ooh, I’m gonna go out and find me some high Anglican churches to mix up with my library of Catholic Church pictures

I was in a truly amazing old Unitarian church a few weeks ago, sadly not a church any more but had boatloads of 150-year-old angel art and stained glass.

 

[JulianN]

. “But the sanctuary is not as barren as you made it appear” – fine. But overall ot is, and minus the crucifix, it is.

Well, yes. If one crops out portions of the sanctuary, any church could look more “barren,” as you call it. Or “refreshingly simple,” as others might call it.

 

[TheMortenBay]

Two different churches, one with a bit of liturgy going on. Any guesses?
Church 1
(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)
Answer:

Spoiler

Danish Lutheran. We borrowed it for our Catholic pre-1955 Easter Vigil

Church 2
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Answer:

Spoiler

Catholic. It used to be Welsh Anglican

 

[Searching1]

Lol. I get it. I am sorry.

 

[Searching1]

(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.) Protestant or Catholic?

 

[TheMortenBay]

Definitely protestant. I can tell from the skin tone.

 

[Beryllos]

Please be at peace. I apologize for saying that the cropped photo was “a lie.” I did not call you “liar” or say “you lied” as such, but characterizing your post as “a lie” lacked charity.

I recognize your love for Christ and the Church, and pray for continued blessings for you.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

Not sure about Church 1.
Church 2 looks Anglican to me

 

[TheMortenBay]

I’ve hidden the answers as spoilers in the original post.

Church 2 looks Anglican to me

That’s a good guess.

 

[aroosi]

Protestant?

 

[Sean]

Its a Jehovah’s witnesses kingdom hall

 

[Dovekin]

I was upset by the layout and felt compelled to take a picture because of that. It is stark, to the point where, during the entrance procession, when the priest bowed in front of the altar (that plain table up there), I immediately thought, “what is he even bowing to?” Yes, the altar represents our Lord Jesus Christ, I’m just reiterating that it is staaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaark …

The Church is set up so that you will ask “what is he even bowing to?” You should be able to answer “to the altar, to the Rock which is Christ. (1 Cor 10:4) To the Living Stone, rejected by the builders that has become the cornerstone, the chief stone supporting all the rest. (1 Peter 2:1-10)

The altar is a primary image of Christ, reminding us of the sacrifice celebrated on it. It should be central in the Church, and it should be bare, stark, as a reminder of the Sacrifice Christ suffered for us.

A principal reason tabernacles were moved to side altars and adoration chapels was to emphasize the altar and what takes place on it. Too many people minimize the act of sacrifice and thanksgiving that is the Eucharist in favor of adoration of the Eucharistic species. The latter presence depends on the former.

The altar, on which is effected the Sacrifice of the Cross made present under sacramental signs, is also the table of the Lord to which the People of God is convoked to participate in the Mass, and it is also the center of the thanksgiving that is accomplished through the Eucharist…
the altar should occupy a place where it is truly the center toward which the attention of the whole congregation of the faithful naturally turns.
Out of reverence for the celebration of the memorial of the Lord and for the banquet in which the Body and Blood of the Lord are offered…
Floral decoration should always show moderation and be arranged around the altar rather than on the altar table.
For only what is required for the celebration of the Mass may be placed on the altar table…
General Instruction on the Roman Missal.

 

[paperwight]

Protestant?

If you click on the blurred out sections, the answers are there.

 

[Searching1]

You should be able to answer “to the altar, to the Rock which is Christ. (1 Cor 10:4) To the Living Stone, rejected by the builders that has become the cornerstone, the chief stone supporting all the rest. (1 Peter 2:1-10)

I did.

10 characters.

 

[Searching1]

Too many people minimize the act of sacrifice and thanksgiving that is the Eucharist in favor of adoration of the Eucharistic species.

Nope. The altar is not the table by itself. It begins with the steps and includes all parts in the sanctuary.

Adoration is what drove St. Clare to raise the monstrance and stop an army. Adoration is what inspired the Chinese girl in 1900 to be a martyr to save the desecrated hosts strewn on the floor by nationalist soldiers. It is why soviet forces killed priests - so the consecretion could not take place. The Wucharist is the source and summit of our Faith. It is what drove early Christian’s to smuggle our Lord’s body into prisons to minister to imprisoned Christians.

The Faithful are voluntarily moving Him to the side, then to the back, then to another building. What is next? Will He be totally removed?

That one joke comes to mind about the injured British soldier in WWII who was captured by the Germans and kept in the POW camp infirmary. He asked that one after another body part be cut off and dropped over his home country. The Germans acquiesce at first, but after his arms and legs are gone, they stop doing it for him and say “we think you’re trying to escape!”

 

[Dovekin]

This is the prayer for the blessing of an altar. I can only encourage you to appreciate the mystery of the altar more deeply, so that you can better understand “what is he bowing to?”

Blessed are you, Lord our God,
who accepted the sacrifice of Christ,
offered on the altar of the cross
for the salvation of the world.

Now with a Father’s love,
you call upon your people to celebrate his memory
by coming to gether at his table.

May this altar,
which we have built for your holy mysteries,
be the center of our praise and thanksgiving.

May it be the table
at which we break the bread which gives us life
and drink the cup which makes us one.

May it be the fountain
of the unfailing waters of salvation.

Here may we draw close to Christ,
the living stone,
and, in him, grow into a holy temple.

Here may our lives of holiness
become a pleasing sacrifice to your glory.

 

[Searching1]

Oh my word I know… I was making a statement about the barrenness.

 

[melonhead]

Snake handler?

 

[JulianN]

The Faithful are voluntarily moving Him to the side, then to the back, then to another building.

You mean like at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican?

 

[Pitcairn17]

(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.) This was the original pic. I cropped the crucifix because that would give it away. Sorry for being sneaky

I understand how doing so might render this whole thing self-fulfilling, but the crucifix isn’t even in the center.

I was baptized there, btw.

I agree with 1ke on all this. First, you posted a deliberately misleading title on your original post, because you KNEW this was a Catholic Church. Now, you admit to having been “sneaky” in how you cropped the picture. This wasn’t about a healthy debate on church architecture, this was a set-up, and I believe you were wrong to do so.