Church and Chapel |
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Church |
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In England and Wales people considered themselves either 'church' or 'chapel'. The Church of England was the official church of the state and had many privileges. Farmers had to pay a tithe (tenth) of their earnings whether or not they went to church at all. Church of England Bishops sat in the House of Lords and the Queen is still the head of the Church. The Church of England had - and still has - a duty to baptise and bury anyone who asks. |
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Communion in an Anglican Church |
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The whole country is divided into parishes, each with a parish church. During Queen Victoria's reign many new parish churches were built and old ones were renovated to hold the large numbers of people that came. In England the majority of people would call themselves 'Church of England' - even those that never went to church at all! |
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Chapel |
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| For many years before Queen Victoria's reign, Chapel people, along with Roman Catholics, had faced all kinds of persecution from the state. They had not been allowed to go to university, hold important jobs or have their own church buildings. Now things were better, but many people still looked down on those who were 'Chapel' or were Catholic.
The Baptist, Methodist, Salvation Army, Congregational and Brethren groups all grew larger during Victoria's reign and soon every town and village had chapels as well as the parish church. Most people in Scotland went to the Church of Scotland and other Presbyterian chapels, so that most people there would call themselves 'Chapel'. Because of the years of persecution, Chapel people tended to be very committed to their church community and faith. They enjoyed the singing and the sermons of their simple church services. They would go to Chapel morning and evening every Sunday, and several evenings during the week as well. |
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A Victorian Baptist Chapel |
A Victorian Congregational Chapel |
Inside a Victorian Church of Scotland Chapel |
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Going to a Village Church |