Is anyone able to explain the different church denominations for me?

[Newsenmum]

Locally we seem to have lots of churches! Within walking distance is Baptist, Methodist, Roman Catholic, and another which I have no idea (is there a way to find out?) also my
son was asking me the difference between high and low church? I am honestly stumped. Yes I could google but I thought mumsnetters might have a better and more interesting way of explaining it to me ☺️ (and my son!)

Strictly speaking, Anglicans aren't supposed to have gluten-free communion either. It's actually part of canon law (which because we're an Established church is the law of the land) that the bread is made from the finest wheat.

In practice you'll find clergy willing to use gluten-free bread.

I believe the original schism between Orthodox and Roman was to do with the wording of the Nicene Creed: one side states that the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father, the other side that the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son.

A seemingly small but significant and irreconcilable difference. (Bit of a shame really, as Nicaea was an attempt to get everything set down and agreed upon...)

Unlike earlier arguments (Arians, Gnostics, Apollos) this one had enough on both sides to cause a permanent split.

That’s not true. Catholics have gluten free communion.

Anglicans aren't supposed to use alcohol-free wine for the host either; but when in partnership with a Methodist congregation (Local Ecumenical Projects were all the rage in the seventies) there is some wriggle room.

We don't. Parishes might choose to ignore canon law and buy gluten free hosts (which are available for sale as they are valid matter in some other denominations), but it is impossible for them to be valid matter and so they won't actually be communion.

We do have the option of very low gluten hosts, but not gluten free.

It doesn't matter OP, what matters is a relationship with God which will then result in wanting to meet regularly with His people and form part of His body on earth.

(But some will see that as quite a low church view - personal relationship with God over other factors!

Yes and no. Yes, that it often cited as the reason and because the average Catholic or Orthodox believer wouldn't be able to explain the theology of either Church on the procession of the Holy Spirit. No, because there was a lot more (cultural rather than theological) going on under the surface, and because Catholic and Orthodox theology over the procession of the Holy Spirit is actually the same, but worded differently.

Yes, get into relationship with God first and then He will lead you to the church He wants you to be part of.
That’s how it happened with me, anyway 🤷🏼‍♀️

Fellow Catholic, possibly, I won’t argue. As I see it though, once blessed in reverence and faith it is Holy Communion.

What? I'm pretty sure my local Catholic Church gives out gluten free communion wafers!

There was something in the news recently about the Pope declaring that the host had to contain gluten. I remember discussing it with some of the clergy at my church at the time. They said it is allowed in Anglican churches, but maybe its not as a PP said. Although I think canon law can be changed. Google didn't really help when I searched.

Oh. I found the law about gluten free. Apparently there are 'gluten free" wafers that are actually low gluten and therefore allowed.
But ones with no wheat in at all are not. Interesting.

Some really interesting takes on different denominations on here
I like @FTMat42 's early on page 1.

John Wesley started the Methodist Church in 1738.
He was very much a social reformer, and at that time teetotalism was very much a part of the work he promoted. He also wanted Church to be accessible to all, and travelled on horseback preaching to whoever would listen. He felt that services in Latin, and high church liturgies were out of reach of the understanding of all but the elite few, and wanted very much for everyone to be able to access the word of God. His brother Charles wrote over 6 500 hymns, as well as also being an ordained Anglican cleric before supporting his brother to make Christianity more accessible. Methodists still love a good sing today.

As well as the baptism thing, a difference between Methodists and Bapists is that each Baptist Church is an independent Church, whereas Methodists are more structure. Groups of Churches form a 'circuit' .... groups of circuits for a 'District' .... all the Districts make up the 'Connection' which is Methodism Nationally. Methodists vary quite a bit from Catholics and Anglicans in that Methodists are run by ordinary lay people (non-ordained volunteers) and Anglicans and Catholics even more so, are more top down, with decisions being taken by Bishops and Archbishops - and the Pope and the Vatican for Catholics.
Each year the Methodist Conference has a lay person as well as an ordained person to lead together, and that is the same in Districts, Circuits, and Churches.

There's loads! I found this video very informative

Another thing about the Roman Catholic church is that it has an approved lectionary for Sunday and weekday Mass readings, so that if you go to church you will be listening to the exact same scriptures as every other Catholic worldwide on that day, which is something I always find it interesting to think about when meditating on them. Of course, you're encouraged to read the rest of the bible as well, but not everyone does.

It's one of the things that helps to reinforce the sense of the church being 'catholic' - universal, there for everyone, not local or exclusive.

I think orthodox don't believe in original sin whereas Roman Catholics do!

Orthodox believe that the guilt of original sin belongs to Adam and Eve alone; the consequences of original sin pass down to every human. Catholics believe that both the guilt and the consequences are inherited ... however, the two denominations are using the word 'guilt' to mean different things. Both agree that humans are not guilty of original sin in the same way that we are guilty of personal sin. Again, it's a difference of language much more than fundamental doctrine. The two positions are reconcilable.

One fundamental thing I've noticed in UK is not many people know that orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas on the 6th or 7th January. I have many times had to explain this to bosses when I would like to take that day off, as most have never heard of this even though they know the celebration dates of every other religion.

i thought orthodox priests could marry?

re trinitarianism, I thought that was a defining feature of christianity?

baptists do use non alcoholic communion wine and serve it in individual tiny glasses (or at least where I grew up they did)- and like other protestants, their clergy can marry and even be female !

OP there is also a WHOLE LOAD of history attached to all of this- for example for a long time only members of the CofE could hold certain positions in society, attend university I think etc etc

i thought orthodox priests could marry?

Men who are already married may become priests, but someone who is already a priest cannot marry. The same holds for the Catholic Church in the small number of cases where we have married priests (e.g. Anglican converts), and for all deacons. This is a matter of discipline rather than doctrine in both churches and not a fundamental difference. Both churches have a preference for celibate clergy.

Anglican churches have a Lectionary too, so that everyone is hearing the same readings in every parish. However it is not mandatory so that doesn't hold any more!

These are differences, but they are mostly of style rather than substance. Differences in denominations are not only about the type of service. Much more important is the theology that is believed and practised. The Roman Catholic Church is not hung up about the bible as so many Protestant churches are, particularly evangelical ones, I think Catholics are more focused on Jesus and the gospels containing his teaching, and on the sacraments, Whereas some evangelical churches are strictly about the bible including the Old Testament as the word of God. The various Protestant denominations interpret the scriptures differently, and there is a big variation even within the largest one, the Church of England. The main thing to look out for imo is whether they are "complementarian" or egalitarian in their view of women and what they "allow" women to do. There are different degrees of severity in complementarian views of women. Some are more egalitarian but do not let women lead in church or preach, others insist women must be subservient to men in the home as well. They do not usually make their views clear on their websites, for example, but clues will be that they claim the bible is inerrant or infallible. This is usually shorthand for using or mis-using texts from St. Paul to restrict women among other things. These churches will not have women priests and are not very LBGT friendly either, because of the way they interpret scripture. Most non-conformist churches, but not all, are more egalitarian. Hope that is not more confusing than ever.

Sorry for my typo above - should be LGBTQ.

In Ireland they absolutely are allowed gluten free hosts.