The Church Unravelled

 

 

We are often asked questions about various aspects of Church life, worship and practice.
W
e want to know what your questions are and we will then look to provide some form of answer perhaps through house groups, sermons, via the web-site … perhaps you have
ideas on how we could provide the information. Do let us know. In the information below we hope to offer you some answers to questions already asked of

  

Everything you ever wanted to know about Church but were afraid to ask ...

 

Colours in Church

Have you noticed that, from time to time, the colour of things in church change ?   The special robes worn by the clergy, in addition to the front of the altar, (amongst other things) will change colour from time to time.   Each season the Church’s year has its own distinctive colour and these are called ‘liturgical colours’.

Green

Green is the colour we have more than others.   Green is the ‘ordinary’ colour of nature.   In the main it is used after Trinity Sunday and last for about half of the year, until we approach the season of Advent.   There are other short periods when green is used – from the end of the season of Epiphany until the beginning of lent and between Pentecost and Trinity Sunday.

 

Purple

Purple is the colour of Penitence and Preparation.   It is used for Lent (the 40 days before Easter) and Advent (the 4 weeks before Christmas).   Traditionally, at St Peter’s, we do not have flowers in church for these solemn periods.

 

White and Gold

White is used for celebration and all joyful Festivals – Christmas, Epiphany, Easter and the weeks following, and Ascension.

Red

Red is the colour of fire and blood and is used at Pentecost to remind us of the coming of the Holy Spirit to the disciples like tongues of flame (Acts 2.11).   It is also used for festivals of martyrs (eg St Peter, our patron saint) and, in the current Church calendar, for Holy Week and the Sundays leading up to Advent.