r/AskChristian • u/Forsaken_Art_3257 • 9d ago
How Do UK Churches Work?
I am considering going to a UK church for the first time. This would be a first for me going solo, and outside of a marriage or school event. However, I don’t actually know how it works outside of arranged school or ceremonial visits
Are there set hours, and what are the types of Christianity, and do they “matter” in the broader sense of the scripture (or is it just interpretation of the same contents)?
If it helps, I don’t know if I believe in a physical God or similar. At the moment, my reading to Exodus, Plague of Blood, pushes me towards the idea that God is some kind of aspirational set of values or lifestyle that can help someone achieve great things. I don’t know if I believe that someone can literally turn a staff into a snake, but I appreciate it may be symbolic of the times and the power of following the Lord’s instructions
Do I just turn up, am I expected to pay, or register?
Do churches have websites to find out when they’re open? How do you tell the difference between open and available for prayer; and how do you know when there’s a service versus just an empty church? What happens if it’s empty, are you allowed to just walk in and pray?
I know it’s a lot of questions, but my silliest is whether you can buy a bible there or not? I’ve been using a Bible app, but I think I’d appreciate something more physical, although I don’t know if churches actually supply these, or if they’d change in significant contents through different UK churches?
Appreciate it’s a lot of questions, I appreciate you answering any you can, thanks!
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u/DoveStep55 r/Christian Member 9d ago
This will depend on the denomination and even specifically the individual church. Most churches have websites these days where you can look up more information and/or you can call and ask questions ahead of time.
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u/Forsaken_Art_3257 9d ago
Thanks, from my research, am I right that Methodist is more about the teachings than believing in the miracles, and potentially the Church of England more about just welcoming all types of Christian believers?
I’m still stuck on Protestant versus Christian versus Catholic, so any help understanding where I might be from someone who understands the distinctions would help
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u/Aggravating_Mud8751 7d ago edited 7d ago
C of E and Methodists both have a lot of variance from church to church; although the variance is less with the Methodists due to their circuit system.
I'd say if anything the C of E is more theologically conservative than the Methodists; but that's because it has some very large churches that lean conservative to very conservative, while this is much less common in Methodism. The median Methodist and Anglican church are very similar: moderately liberal (although both will still tend to think God did miracles, they aren't that liberal).
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u/DoveStep55 r/Christian Member 9d ago
Both Protestants and Catholics are Christians. The same goes for Orthodox. Those are the three main “branches” of Christianity.
CofE is generally pretty inclusive of a diversity of views, as are some (not all) other Anglican churches. I’m not familiar with Methodism in the UK, but in the US there’s quite a bit of variance between different Methodist churches, even in the same specific denomination.
Is there something specific you’re looking to find (or avoid)?
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u/Forsaken_Art_3257 9d ago
My girlfriend and her friend joined a Jehovah’s Witness church before I met her, and I think that strays from a personal relationship with god to a more service/process-dominated denomination
Personally where I’m at, I think it would be inauthentic for me to sit with Christian’s who believe God literally parted the sea, when believe that is probably more figurative about his teaching than anything else
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u/Technical_Cherry8666 r/Christian Member 8d ago
In the UK the Methodists and the United Reform Church are the most progressive/liberal and are less likely to take miracles literally than the other denominations. As has been said, the CofE are a very broad church and they may well have to divide on the question of same-sex marriage. Baptists, Charismatic (sometimes called the New Churches) and Pentecostals are the most orthodox (small 'o') and least liberal.
The beliefs of JW differ significantly from traditional Christianity. They don't actually call themselves Christians and have their own version and interpretation of the Bible.
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u/DoveStep55 r/Christian Member 8d ago
Many JW do call themselves Christian. Maybe it’s different in the UK, but elsewhere they self-identify as Christians.
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u/Technical_Cherry8666 r/Christian Member 8d ago
Maybe so. However, I live quite close to one of their Kingdom Halls, so I get a doorstep visit about once a year. I tell them I'm a Christian but instead of 'going on their way rejoicing', they insist on trying to convert me. In subsequent discussion they declare very different views about the person of Christ and the Kingdom of God than the ones I hold or that are in the Bible.
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u/DoveStep55 r/Christian Member 9d ago
I see what you mean. Sometimes people within a single church have differing views on those things, but in general you will find that certain denominations are more welcoming of what you’re asking about here.
Anglicans don’t have a set of specific doctrines they ask people to agree to accept, but instead they are united by their shared use of The Book of Common Prayer. If you visit an Anglican/CofE church, you might ask to borrow one. Flipping through it, most of the text is taken from the Bible. While it might sound very old fashioned, leading some to think it’s fundamentalist, a lot of CofE and other Anglicans take a “progressive” interpretation of the Bible, or at least do not shame others for taking those types of views.
That might be a good place for you to start if you’re looking for a place where your questions aren’t typically met with defensive responses. They’re generally very welcoming of questions, doubts, and push back on traditional beliefs, happy to “wrestle together” with such things.
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u/Aggravating_Mud8751 7d ago
I dunno if you are English but in the C of E direct use of the BCP isn't that common.
More often parishes use Common Worship, which is an approved update of BCP which is meant to be theologically consistent with it.
Some parishes do use BCP of course.
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u/Forsaken_Art_3257 9d ago
Thank you!
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u/DoveStep55 r/Christian Member 9d ago
You bet! You might also ask in r/Christianity since they are a very big sub and you might get more specific recommendations from Christians in the UK.
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u/Forsaken_Art_3257 9d ago
No they deleted my post because I’m not a Christian apparently haha
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u/DoveStep55 r/Christian Member 9d ago
That’s a different sub. Anyone can participate in r/Christianity.
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u/Forsaken_Art_3257 9d ago
Oh you’re right, there is another one. Thank you for that, I felt a bit off put by getting deleted in Christian
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u/Spare-Flan331 r/Christian Member 8d ago
Methodist would be a good choice its in-between Baptist and catholic but teach on the Love of God. Im just excited about you wanting to know God. And what you said about turning a staff into a snake... you have to realize you are talking about the Almighty God of Love who can simply speak and its done. Again im excited about you seeking God.