What is a Protestant Church?

Answer 1

How long is a piece of string? The protestant church is incredibly diverse. For most, the interior is simliar - or the same - as a Roman Cathoic church but with slight differences. There will be, at one end, an altar (called more a communion table, or 'Lord's table' in protestant churches) a communion rail, a pulpit, a lectern from where The Bible is read, pews or seats, and some means of making music - usually an organ. At the other end, near the door, is a font for baptism. These are the basics, but there are variations. For example, in a Methodist Church (and some other protestant denominations), the pulpit is usually the central focal point rather than the communion table, as Methodists regard the Word and teaching through the sermon as more important than the sacrament of Holy Communion. In Baptist churches the font is replaced with a baptistry - a deep well in the floor where baptism by full immersion is practised. In high church Anglicanism the church wil resemble almost exactly a Roman Catholic church with all the basic features with the addition of altar lamps, and an aumbry or tabernacle where the conscecrated bread and wine is stored. Low church Anglicanism will have churches that are more simple and more like methodist churches. Many of the oldest Anglican churches are identical with Roman catholic churches as they were of courses, Roman catholic churches before the split with Rome in the 15th C. But whatever is inside the church building, let's not forget that the Church is actually the people and not the building. In my locality in the UK, we have churches meeting in ancient buildings dating from the 11th century and before, in modern purpose built buildings, in cinemas, schools and even a pub(bar). It's the quality of the worship that matters, and what goes on in a person's heart, than what is inside a man-made building.