I'm in a church...

[LifeIsGoodish]

How do I know what sort of church it is?

I think it's a Catholic church - but I'm not a Christian. My friend thinks it is an Anglican church - but then she's not a Christian, either.

So how do we tell?

(Either way, it's a lovely space.)

Protestant churches tend not to use crucifixes; does that help? Although Anglican churches do I believe. What's the churches name?

Google it

Google the name and location of the church - most churches these days have websites. Or it should say on the board outside.

Guide book, history of the church, usually near the entrance with parish leaflets etc.

Look at the board outside. It should tell you.

Catholic Churches tend to be quite ornate.

High Anglican can look pretty similar to RC. I'd look for a sign outside.

Catholic churches will usually have a candle in a red holder on the altar and a kind of gold safe on or very near to the altar. There will be tealights or small candles to light near a statue of a saint or the virgin Mary with baby Jesus. You usually make a donation for them. There will be confession boxes/alcoves.

Catholic churches always have crucifixes - a cross with Jesus on it. Most anglican/protestant churches will just have a cross (although some high anglican churches will have crucifixes, confusing!!)
Catholic churches will have statues of saints and the virgin Mary too.

If the crucifix is just a cross it’s generally Protestant. If it’s a cross with the body on it, it’s generally Catholic.

A Catholic church will always have a shrine to the Virgin Mary.

Shrine to Mary = Catholic Church.

If it's a Catholic church it will have Stations of the Cross on the wall, individual paintings or carvings that tell the story of Jesus carrying the cross and his subsequent crucifixion.

Catholic = tabernacle. A sort of cupboard with a red candle burning beside it. Stations of the cross. Always a side altar or chapel to Mary.

And Catholic churches have a tabernacle, a glitzy little cupboard, behind the altar where they keep the communion bread.

Does it have a nice big sign outside?

Agree if it's Catholic then Jesus will be on the cross. Protestant/Anglican and he won't.
Catholic and there will be Mary statues.
Protestant not so much.

Ask the priest/a member of the clergy.
Btw my Anglican church has crucifixes and a shrine to mary so that's not just Catholic churches.

If there are leaflets/posters at the back for cafod (catholic charity) - it’s probably catholic. Maybe if they have signs/timings of confession it’s more likely catholic.

Some Anglican and Catholic Churches can be hard to tell apart. Catholic Churches tend to state the timings of Mass. Some Anglican churches refer to holy communion or parish Eucharist, but a few call it mass too. Mention of a service being BCP (book of common prayer) would be Anglican.

Agree some Anglican and Catholic churches can be hard to tell apart.

Also agree to look for the candle in the (usually red) holder hanging up to one side at the front - this would suggest it is a Catholic church.

Is there a notice board? Cafod is a good indicator of a Catholic church. If it says which Diocese it is, post here and I can probably tell you.

If it's a Catholic church it will have Stations of the Cross on the wall, individual paintings or carvings that tell the story of Jesus carrying the cross and his subsequent crucifixion.

So many incorrect assumptions here. My family church, which is Anglican has the stations of the cross.

Most churches which contain Stations of the Cross are Catholic churches.

Protestant churches tend to have an empty cross focusing on the message of the resurrection. Roman Catholic crosses have the body of Christ on the cross to emphasise the message that Jesus suffered and died for all.

How can you be in a church and not know what it is?

Hi Anglican churches look very similar to a "typical" catholic one IME. Talking England here.

It's got crucifixes rather than plain crosses. I can't see any tabernacle near the altar, though there appears to be an extra font with a little light in a sconce over it next to the altar. There's no smell of incense, but there appears to be three censers (?) hanging from the roof in the choir area just in front of the altar. There is a side chapel, but I can't see into it.