Via Media - highchurch or lowchurch...

Stabat Mater dolorosa

Jesus Christ today, yesterday and forever!
Supporter
Jun 18, 2014
17,708
8,068
Somewhere up North
✟293,971.00
Country
Norway
Faith
Traditional. Cath.
Marital Status
Single
What's your Roman C. flavor?

You know, so that we'll have some guidance about what you have in mind.

I don't know what to make of your tone Albion? hmm...

I'll just answer and ignore any potential puns in your post.

Well I'm highchurch and love latin and liturgies and so on.

I asked out of curiosity just so you know.
 
Upvote 0

Albion

Facilitator
Dec 8, 2004
111,138
33,258
✟583,842.00
Country
United States
Faith
Anglican
Marital Status
Married
I don't know what to make of your tone Albion? hmm...

I'll just answer and ignore any potential puns in your post.

Well I'm highchurch and love latin and liturgies and so on.

I asked out of curiosity just so you know.
Well, most people do not know what the terms high church and low church mean and they are somewhat malleable among Anglicans as well, but there also are charismatic, liberal, and other factions in both the Roman and Anglican communions. Therefore, it seems to me to be a good idea to have clear what is being asked by the OP before we get a hundred posts ranging all over the place.
 
Upvote 0

Paidiske

Clara bonam audax
Supporter
Apr 25, 2016
34,110
19,004
43
Albury, Australia
Visit site
✟1,473,110.00
Country
Australia
Faith
Anglican
Marital Status
Married
My personal preference is probably a flavour that has almost died out in my diocese; that's what I'd call traditional low-church. At the moment I work across two parishes, one that's more high church and one that's more low-church, and I (mostly) find the diversity enriching.

In a bit over a month I'll start at a new parish which describes itself as "progressive Catholic" - which, I gather from talking to them, means they're more high church and they want to hear that God loves us, not that he's mad at us - and that will be interesting. I've never worked in a building as modern as theirs and I suspect that I'll find it quite an adjustment; for example, it's a round building, with no altar rails, etc. But they still use vestments and incense and all of that. So it's quite an odd mix!
 
Upvote 0

Raphael Jauregui

Episcopalian, liberal Anglican, Mdiv
May 3, 2017
574
376
Mesa
✟28,598.00
Country
United States
Faith
Anglican
Marital Status
Legal Union (Other)
Politics
US-Democrat
Where are you, what's your Anglican flavor?
I too would be interested in what liturgical practices and traditions you prefer as a Roman Catholic. As I have visited different Catholic parishes, I have noticed that some use more contemporary music and others are more traditional.

Personally, as an Anglican in The Episcopal Church, I would describe my churchpersonship as 'Broad Church' meaning that I prefer services that blend the traditional and contemporary as well as accept the diversity of having high-church and low-church services in the Anglican Communion. In the UK, 'broad church' also means that a person is more theologically liberal. I think that would describe me as well as a liberal Catholic.
 
Upvote 0
This site stays free and accessible to all because of donations from people like you.
Consider making a one-time or monthly donation. We appreciate your support!
- Dan Doughty and Team Christian Forums

everbecoming2007

Well-Known Member
Dec 4, 2012
1,417
283
wherever I am at any given moment
✟70,470.00
Faith
Catholic
Marital Status
Single
Where are you, what's your Anglican flavor?

I suppose I prefer high liturgies, but really I am comfortable in a high or low liturgy if enacted reverently with dignity. My main service for some years has been a low church 1928 liturgy, and I have been fine with it.

In my personal prayer life I do emphasize the communion of saints. The sacraments are very important to me. I commune as often as possible. I go to personal confession regularly. I use structured prayer, especially the daily office. None of this for me clashes with a low liturgy if done traditionally and well.
 
Upvote 0

Naomi4Christ

not a nutter
Supporter
Sep 15, 2005
27,958
1,264
✟269,195.00
Faith
Anglican
Marital Status
Private
I'm an Anglo-Catholic, but I'm ok with various styles of churchmanship. There is a conception that Anglo-Catholic just means fancy worship, but I tend to disagree with that.
So what does it mean to you?
 
  • Agree
Reactions: Tigger45
Upvote 0
This site stays free and accessible to all because of donations from people like you.
Consider making a one-time or monthly donation. We appreciate your support!
- Dan Doughty and Team Christian Forums

Arcangl86

Newbie
Dec 29, 2013
11,072
7,400
✟343,063.00
Faith
Anglican
Marital Status
Single
Politics
US-Green
So what does it mean to you?
For me it's about the theological backdrop, particularity the role of the church. You can believe that Bishops are indispensable to the church, believe in things like fasting and the daily office and the like without having the smells and bells. I do agree that because Anglo-Catholicism is so incarnational that high aesthetics can be part of it, but i don't see it as being necessary. And while it didn't really end up this way in the US, I identify with the strong social justice focus that was at least at the beginning part of the heart and soul of Anglo-Catholicism.
 
Upvote 0

Naomi4Christ

not a nutter
Supporter
Sep 15, 2005
27,958
1,264
✟269,195.00
Faith
Anglican
Marital Status
Private
For me it's about the theological backdrop, particularity the role of the church. You can believe that Bishops are indispensable to the church, believe in things like fasting and the daily office and the like without having the smells and bells. I do agree that because Anglo-Catholicism is so incarnational that high aesthetics can be part of it, but i don't see it as being necessary. And while it didn't really end up this way in the US, I identify with the strong social justice focus that was at least at the beginning part of the heart and soul of Anglo-Catholicism.
In this country, Anglo-Catholicism thrived in poor areas 100+ years ago. The reason for this is that they were sparkly. They offered an escape from horrible lives in the slums.

When life is grey, Church was colourful. It was easy to see the appeal.

As lives have improved, the appeal of Anglo-Catholicism has diminished to the point of being almost insignificant in the life of the church as a whole. They start off on the backfoot in terms of evangelism, as the modern Briton finds it difficult to see meaning in their adherence to a tradition they don’t share.

At the 2020 General Synod, there is a meaningful chance of a real church split along evangelical/liberal lines. The ACs won’t really have a voice in the debate, but are expected to side with evangelicals, as we both represent orthodoxy.

Parishes are now publicly declaring their churchmanships ahead of this Synod, so that we all know who will be in and who will be out, should the unthinkable happen.

So this is what we have to look forward to just as Brexit is tailing off. Never a dull moment.
 
Upvote 0
This site stays free and accessible to all because of donations from people like you.
Consider making a one-time or monthly donation. We appreciate your support!
- Dan Doughty and Team Christian Forums

Paidiske

Clara bonam audax
Supporter
Apr 25, 2016
34,110
19,004
43
Albury, Australia
Visit site
✟1,473,110.00
Country
Australia
Faith
Anglican
Marital Status
Married
In this country, Anglo-Catholicism thrived in poor areas 100+ years ago. The reason for this is that they were sparkly. They offered an escape from horrible lives in the slums.

When life is grey, Church was colourful. It was easy to see the appeal.

There's something to that, but I think it was more than that too. I forget which Anglo-Catholic bishop of the time it was, but I remember learning about one who insisted that he wanted added to the Creed: "and I believe in the London sewerage system" at a time when developing that sort of basic public amenity was highly controversial.

His claim was that if you truly believed the Christian faith, that by necessity committed you to trying to better the lives of the poor.

So it wasn't just that the liturgy was "sparkly," but that it came with an enormous commitment of time, energy, passion and resources to come alongside the poorest folk; heretofore often rather neglected and overlooked by the church but now being championed by leaders disgusted by the dehumanising status quo.

We could do worse than recover some of that passion and energy for our poorest and most overlooked...
 
Upvote 0