Do Churches Need To Be De- And Re- Consecrated When A New Franchise Moves In?

[AB Editor]

Morning,

I was wondering how a new franchise takes over a church. For example, what if there was a little Baptist church run by a Baptist priest/vicar and then, for some reason, the church was sold to the Catholic church.

Naturally they want to get one of their team in behind the pulpit, so they give Jonny Baptists his/her marching orders.

And then what?

Do they take over "fully furnished" in the sense of continuing the consecration "ticket", or do they de-consecrate and reapply their own "ticket"? Or do they just paint over the top with their version, so there's overlap?

I'd like to know the answer, but would also like any little stories you know about this kind of thing :)

Thanks in advance,

Ed

[woofgang]

Its a hymn written by George Herbert in 1633
Benedictine monks also believe that work can be prayer. Their motto is "Laborare est Orare" (To Work is to Pray)
Yes I still remember that lady among the thousands of patients that i have known. He belief was a great comfort to her. At the time I couldn't believe that she might be right.

[cupid04]

My church had a cross made from wood from the old building when we got a new hall. I know this because I used to polish the plaque on it. Even though my hall eventually shut down, the cross and the altar were moved to a church hall a few miles away.

[woofgang]

A broken or damaged item is no less holy. if it can't be repaired, then again is should be disposed of reverently.

[tamborine]

I have a bottle of holy water from Lourdes that I use when/if necessary. Yes, it does work. But its MY mind over matter ;)

[AB Editor]

Would spreading the china altar (ground down) like ashes be acceptable do you think? I suppose it's the same concept?

[woofgang]

yup, so long as it goes into the earth somewhere where it will be safe from desecration it would be fine...so spread over a field or churchyard, yes, dropped down an earth closet, no.

[tamborine]

You're getting silly now Ed....what are you driving at ?

[AB Editor]

On topic please Goodlife, I'm not one to play silly games with. If you could let me know, in plain English without the quotes, how JW's mark their holy ground that would be great. Would you remove a blessing from another church before marking it as your own, for example?

I'm not being silly Tambo, not on purpose anyway. I'm just interested in these strands of holy law/practice.

I assumed that would be the case Woof - it would be a strange practice to do one thing with a body but hold the object in "higher regard" somehow. Thanks for your patience with me - I promise I am not being silly as Tambo suggested, I am just finding the fun bits that I have interest in.

[Clanad]

Here in the U.S., there's lots of independant evangelical churches that spring up in the oddest places. A local school district decomissioned an old country school and it was purchased by such a denomination. I was there as a volunteer and neighbor to help set it up, but that consisted of a hand carved pulpit and several used pews that had come from an older Lutheran church, which is the dominate denomination here..

First Sunday, the pastor (no priests or vicars here) came in, to the smallish congregation (about 35 or so, including yours truly), opened his well used New King James Bible to II Corinthians, 5:17 and taught an excellent 20 minute sermon on it. That's it. That was about two years ago and I visit often... teaching adult Sunday School when invited. They now have perhaps 150 members, have built a baptismal and an addition with a kitchen for social functions.

No ceremony for 'commisioning' the new church... the pastor just got right to work building the community of believers...

[bert_h]

AB Editor, re JWs (Jehovah's Witnesses), there's no way they would ever use another denomination's building. They build their own, from scratch. They have a very disparaging take (to put it extremely mildly) on what is actually happening during any service of so-called worship other than their own.

[AB Editor]

Thanks Clanad and Bert.

Corinthians 5:17
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:[a] The old has gone, the new is here!

Sounds like a good way to start.

[goodlife]

AB-Editor. In the past JWs have used ex consecrated churches and meeting places. We do not have to deconsecrate them, they are done by the previous owner. However, where it is possible we do prefer to build our own. In fact, the Kingdom Hall I presently attend was an old Methodist church.

[woofgang]

no need to ask for patience Ed, this is interesting to me too.

[Octavius]

The JW Assembly Hall in North London used to be a 'luxury lounge' ABC Cinema.

[woofgang]

goodlife, in the case of c of e churches, what is "done" is not religious but legal...does that make a difference?

[AB Editor]

"We do not have to deconsecrate them, they are done by the previous owner."

As, so they "take it with them". Tambo was talking about a church being "Islamified" to be more suitable for muslims to do their thing in. Would there be a similar process for JWs? representing the tablets somehow perhaps? Or removing of ornament?

Octavius - I like any building converted to another purpose cinema > church, church > restaurant, or nearby me there's a Cinema which became a pub - they seemed to knock all the walls out and leave a labyrinth of walkways about amongst high ceilings. It's a bit like the functional and efficient prayer system we were talking about earlier, it's an odd thing turned to another practical purpose. I also like it when they convert horrible industrial buildings into cool looking houses and flats - as long as they leave some of the industry on show.

[AB Editor]

And thank you for your plain language goodlife.

[Octavius]

Actually the JWs have received acknowledgement for restoring a lot of the building to its former art deco appearance, and of course, for not letting it go to wreck and ruin.

[AB Editor]

Sounds good to me Octavius. Art deco stuff tend to crumble away quickly because it's usually a bit delicate.

I like a little bit of brutalism in my public buildings. Although this might be my favourite church:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Grundvig_Memorial_Church_in_Copenhagen.jpg

Which is in the "expressionist" style.