‘How “spikey” are YOU?’ is a short quiz that tests one’s affinity with ritual and ceremony in church.
It will no doubt baffle anyone who is not Anglican, Episcopalian or Catholic.
‘Spikey’ refers to the tall altar candles used in traditionalist churches. The higher one is on the candle in terms of results, the spikier — more high church — one is.
Thanks to my all-too-brief but nonetheless impressive pre-Vatican II upbringing, my result is:
Top of the flame
Congratulations!! After passing this rigorous test you are indeed ‘Top of the flame’ .. .a true all singing, all dancing ‘bells and smells’ Anglo-Catholic! Our videos of Solemn High Mass will have you romping in the Elysian Fields and should you be passing our door.. call in and be assured of a warm welcome! And remember our maxim ‘the only thing that hinders too much ceremonial is the lack of equipment!’
How true!
The quiz asks that you enter a name. I merely typed in a random jumble of letters, which was accepted.
You can even save your results to share with others. Therefore, I look forward to hearing from you in the comments below!
The quiz comes from the altar servers at Beauchamp (pron. ‘Beecham’) Chapel at the Anglican Collegiate Church of St Mary, Warwick.
The church’s Norman foundations date back to 1123 and were commissioned by the 2nd Earl of Warwick, Roger de Beaumont.
In the 14th century, a subsequent Earl of Warwick, Thomas de Beauchamp, had the chancel vestries and chapter house extensively rebuilt. His descendants built the Chapel of Our Lady, also known as the Beauchamp Chapel.
If you are in or near Warwick, it would no doubt be worthwhile attending one of the Sunday services. Otherwise, you can tour the church and go up into the Tower. It looks beautiful.
Also highly recommended is Warwick Castle, erstwhile home of the Earls of Warwick. It’s a beautiful place and will take the better part of a day to visit.
Churchmouse Campanologist 
16 comments
July 7, 2016 at 9:47 am
Boetie
Churchmouse, thanks! I loved this. I came out “top of the flame” – not that I was in the least surprised, though. But this liturgical and at the same time humorous approach is what first attracted me to the Anglican Church in her High Church / Anglo-Catholic tradition ever since I was an 11 or 12 year old lad from Germany coming to Britain for the first time in the very early 1970ies. Quite visibly the Anglican Church had not been through the devastations Vatican II had brought about in my own church (I’m a “Roman” :-). Sadly the Anglican Church has more than made up leeway since.
But for the first time in my life I saw priests who looked like priests with their dog collars and their cassocks/soutanes, who spoke like priests and who acted like priests. Our own RC priests at the time had opted for the “social worker” chic, loathed to be addressed as “Father” and were delighted when you told them: “I would never have guessed you were a priest”. And of course in England I gained an insight into what “liturgy” meant – while in Germany they had already come up with that brilliant idea of happy-clappy services with do-gooder homilies. I had never heard e.g. an “Angelus” prayer in my home parish – the first in my life was in an Anglican church in Hertfordshire. So for many years in my youth the Anglican Church shaped my own Catholic faith. I noticed differences though, even at an early age. Right from day one I was impressed by the style of hearty hymn singing – as opposed to many RC churches where people often can’t be bothered and where the singing is lacklustre. Also, I found traditional Anglican services solemn but ultimately more serene than traditional RC masses. And the difference of the quality of style and language was stunning: introducing the vernacular after Vatican II into RC services didn’t work well: e.g. in Germany it was modern day German while in the Anglican Church the wonderful traditional English had been retained. (Doing away e. g. with Prayer Book English I regard as a a major flaw in today’s Anglican worship.). Not least of all, to this day I appreciate the humour that is never far from the surface with High Church priests – which makes it a pleasure to listen to their sermons and homilies.
The demise of the Anglican Church (namely the CofE) I find deeply saddening and I wonder whether the Catholic faith in her Anglican tradition will have a future within the Anglican Communion or whether in the long run it will be just “catholic” in name and maybe ritual but no longer in essence – with lesbians and feminists in fiddleback chasubles and birettas swinging the thurible – during a same sex marriage.
But I do not want to end on a sombre note. If you appreciate the type of humour of the quiz I am sure you will also like the cartoon figure of “Father Jolly” created years ago by the American Anglican priest Fr. Tom Janikowski during his formative years in the seminary. He is now Rector of Trinity Anglican Church in Rock Island, Illinois (an ACNA parish). Unfortunately there are only few of his cartoons on the net: the first 4 pictures here:
https://www.google.de/search?q=father+jolly&client=firefox-b-ab&biw=1370&bih=938&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiK2-ie_uDNAhVCbRQKHReiBVEQ_AUIBigB
Here is another one:http://www.thescp.org/documents/jollylovejoy.jpg
Should you come across more in the vein of that quiz – please let us know in your blog. I am sure I’d be not the only one to appreciate this.
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July 7, 2016 at 10:16 am
churchmouse
Congratulations on your ‘top of the flame’ result!
I share all your observations 100%. The Father Jolly cartoons are great and illustrate the present situation brilliantly. To supplement that with a real life example, last month, our vicar embarked on a series of sermons exploring the wording and theology behind the various creeds. He started with the Apostle’s Creed ‘because it is short’. What the … ? For months last year, we actually skipped saying the creed because he said it took ‘too much time’. Breathtakingly awful. Then, for some happy reason, we began reciting it again.
Would you mind if I used your comment as a guest post next week? It parallels my own experience to a T and is so heartfelt. Please let me know when you can. Thank you in advance!
Have a good day.
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July 7, 2016 at 10:17 am
churchmouse
Yes, if I find more quizzes like this, I’ll publish them!
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July 7, 2016 at 10:46 am
Boetie
Churchmouse, you’re welcome and feel free to make any alterations you deem necessary – after all, English is not my first language. Just wondering: is it the Catholic faith in “her” or “its” tradition? I am sure, you’ll know…
Just for the fun of it I did the test again, this time giving “uncatholic” answers. The worst result would be: “Oh dear Oh dear! You have done very badly and would probably be happier with a Worship Leader and bashing a tambourine!”
Middle of the candle would be: “Not too bad a result.. there is definitely hope for you yet! It’s obvious you are striving to be a good Anglo-Catholic but still have worries over incense and lace. Never fear, help is at hand; either watch our edifying videos of High Mass with all the ‘bells and smells’ or even better..come and join us!”
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July 9, 2016 at 9:07 am
churchmouse
Thanks for playing with the quiz and copying the amusing verdicts. 🙂
Thank you for your permission to republish your comment! I greatly appreciate it.
I don’t know myself about ‘her’ or ‘its’; I’ll have a look. In any event, you write beautifully. One would never know English was not your first language.
Have a good weekend.
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July 7, 2016 at 3:28 pm
undergroundpewster
Low candle here, but I still like to sing anthems and choral works in Latin.
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July 9, 2016 at 9:08 am
churchmouse
Thank you!
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July 7, 2016 at 5:07 pm
The True Light!
Interesting as always. You are right, I find it hard to see the sense in having such a ritual in church service, as I am a non-denominational Christian worshiper.
Steve
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July 9, 2016 at 9:13 am
churchmouse
Thank you, Steve.
It just goes to show people like the worship traditions in which they were brought up.
I would be lost without aesthetics. In my youth, there were enough families for a new church to be built. Whilst it was under construction, we worshipped in a gymnasium. Those two or three years couldn’t end soon enough. The church was well worth waiting for, modern but sensitively designed.
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July 11, 2016 at 5:13 pm
The True Light!
I too went through a new church building as a youth. As I remember, we had to have two services on Sunday for a while, even in the new building, because of the crowd! That was a long time ago…
Now in the church I am in, we struggle to find ways to fill the building once on a Sunday. What a breakdown has occurred in the meaning of, and need for, worshiping the Lord on His day.
Oh yes, we had a beautifully designed building too. But the things occurring within the walls were the important thing!
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July 13, 2016 at 9:11 am
churchmouse
Well, we shall have to agree to differ on aesthetics, I’m afraid. 🙂 I find it difficult being in churches that look like lecture halls and prefer the ethereal to lift my heart to heaven and set my mind on higher things.
I wonder whether demographics have something to do with church attendance. In my late grandparents’ neighbourhoods, the original families died or their children moved out. The current residents have different Christian traditions, leaving the old churches in a state of merger, with their schools long since closed.
By contrast, I checked the website for the church that was new when I was in my youth. They’ve grown leaps and bounds and even added a church hall at some point. They have daily Mass (we had only weekend ones) and a continual influx of members thanks to new housing developments nearby.
Blessings and grace to you, brother. I enjoyed our exchange.
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July 13, 2016 at 4:21 pm
The True Light!
I understand and can appreciate what you say here, my friend. The aesthetics of a place of worship can have an effect on how we feel in offering our adoration to God.
Nonetheless, it is more important in my mind to have our hearts set on the purpose of why we are meeting in a place before we get there…and that is to worship God in spirit and truth.
Some find it perfectly acceptable to meet in a dusty, rundown, building so long as they can praise the Lord of all. Some meet in places outside of a building altogether and can worship with no problem. The condition of the heart is more important than the condition of the meeting place, at least in my point of view.
I confess it can be a wonderful experience to assemble in an old historic church building or cathedral, even inspiring. But I believe one can raise honor and glory to God in any kind of house of worship.
I respect and understand your point of view on this point, as I’m sure you do mine. May the Lord love and bless you and yours always…
Steve
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July 19, 2016 at 10:36 am
churchmouse
Thank you, friend. May he continue to bless you and yours, too!
My apologies for the late reply!
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July 19, 2016 at 3:46 pm
The True Light!
It is perfectly fine, my friend. I run 1-2 days behind in my replies and comments all the time! May all be well with you and Mrs. Churchmouse…
Steve
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July 19, 2016 at 4:33 pm
churchmouse
Thank you! 🙂
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July 19, 2016 at 5:09 pm
The True Light!
🙂
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