Roses' Story

In my younger days before receiving communion, you had to be fasting from midnight the night before, now this has been changed to one hour. At that time a mother, after the birth of a baby, had to be 'Churched'. Prayers were said over the mother and a blessed candle was lit. This was to cleanse her from sin. Men were not Churched and I thought this was discrimination against women.

Sheila's Story

Confessions are almost obsolete as regards to the present generation. The priests or clergy seem to cater to the young people. The aged are put into the background.

Everything that happened was a sin against the Church, if you forgot to say your prayers, for instance, you were told it was a sin, or if you forgot to bow your head passing the Church, that was a sin. Missing Sunday school was a definite N0!

Anna's Story

When I was young I had to fast from 12 o'clock the night before I was going to receive Holy Communion. Now we do not have that. A lot of people now do not go to confession, but receive every Sunday.

We had to dress in white for our First Holy Communion, and for Confirmation, now they dress in all colours. When a person died the people paid 2s. 6d. - Half Crown or 5 shillings to the priest who said the mass for that person, now we have alter girls as well as alter boys. We have ladies giving our Holy Communion as well as men and priests. When a baby was born you would get it baptised as soon as you could, now they keep them for six weeks or more.

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