An English Country Church Trivia Quiz

Answer: Corpse

The name comes from the Old English "lic", meaning a corpse. In the Middle Ages, bodies being taken to the church for burial were placed on a bier under the lych-gate, where the first part of the burial service was read, prior to being taken either into the church or to the graveside itself.

Answer: Gargoyle

The word gargoyle is believed to derive from the French "gargouille", meaning a throat. In church architecture, a "chimera" or "grotesque" is similar to a gargoyle but is purely decorative - without the practical function of a water spout.

Gargoyles often take the form of demonic or devilish creatures. However, examples do exist that have been carved in the representation of real people, such as members of the clergy at the time when the gargoyle was made.

Answer: Bells

To the casual visitor, the bells are commonly much more audible than visible. Most English country churches will have at least one bell, used primarily to signal the times of church services. Those with five or more bells will often have their own teams of bell-ringers, although sadly some are only chimed mechanically.

Alfred Bowell had a bell-foundry in Ipswich from 1897-1940. Thomas Mears II operated out of the still-working Whitechapel bell-foundry (1810-1844). The Taylor bell-foundry in Loughborough is also still in operation.

Answer: Water - it's for use during the baptismal service

Fonts are not usually kept filled with water except during a baptism or christening. There may indeed be a collection box by the door, but don't worry about your shoes - there is no ban on wearing them in Anglican churches. And churches usually have electric light these days.

Answer: Rood was the Anglo-Saxon word for a cross, which would be set on top of the screen

Traditionally, the screen would be surmounted by the rood cross itself, usually in the form of a crucifix (a figure of Christ crucified on the cross). In England, most of the original mediaeval crosses were torn down during the Protestant Reformation in the sixteenth century, although the screens were more often left in place. Most of those that remained were destroyed during the Commonwealth, when the Puritans had a field day removing stained glass windows, silver and gold plate, statues and anything else they decided was "Papist".

Answer: Burning incense

The thurible, which is carried by a person known as the thurifer, is usually hung from a metal chain which allows it to be swung to and fro at the appropriate points in the service.

The burning of incense in this way is more common in those Church of England parishes of a relatively "high church", or Anglo-Catholic, persuasion.

Answer: Behind the altar - it's a decorated screen

The reredos often takes the form of a wooden carving, although it can be of stone, painted wood, tapestry or mosaic.

Answer: For the congregation to kneel on whilst at prayer

In many English country churches, hassocks have become primarily decorative, as congregations often prefer to employ the "Church of England crouch" when praying. This involves bending at the waist while still seated and staring at the back of the pew in front, rather than actually getting down on the knees.

Regular churchgoers may have seen hassocks being used as cushions, or for toddlers to stand on - but that is not what they are supposed to be for!

Answer: Bishop

A Bishop would normally have oversight over a diocese including a great many individual churches, and would not be involved in their daily business, although he may attend for special services, such as Patronal festivals, or to administer the sacrament of confirmation.

On a day-to-day basis, the vicar and his curate (assistant) would look after the spiritual aspects of the church's business, while the churchwardens (who are normally lay members of the congregation) would be responsible for the maintenance of the building and its contents.

Answer: Colobus

A colobus is not commonly found in English churches, being a species of African monkey. A chasuble, on the other hand, is a sleeveless garment worn over the cassock (an ankle-length robe), and a stole is a band of cloth worn around the neck, with the loose ends hanging down in front.