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An investigation into the phenomena and practices of spiritual ...

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4.8.1. Description <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> inside <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> church (COGIC)The church building seats about 200 people <strong>and</strong> is situated in an urban district <strong>of</strong> London,as in <strong>the</strong> URC congregation also observed. The building appears to be an old church hall orwarehouse that has been bought by <strong>the</strong> church members <strong>and</strong> converted <strong>into</strong> a church. Theinterior has been recently tastefully decorated with new chairs, new carpets <strong>and</strong> newcurtains. The rostrum is on three levels. The highest level tastefully furnished with a lemoncolour curtain in <strong>the</strong> background <strong>and</strong> drapes over <strong>the</strong> wooden features on <strong>the</strong> rostrum.There are twenty chairs on <strong>the</strong> highest level <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> rostrum, two chairs towards <strong>the</strong> front<strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>rs towards <strong>the</strong> back. There is an extravagant display <strong>of</strong> flowers <strong>and</strong> tropicalplants on <strong>the</strong> first level <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> second levels. There are two pulpits, situated in <strong>the</strong> centre<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> rostrum on both levels. The Pastor sits to right <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> congregation on <strong>the</strong> highestlevel rostrum.On <strong>the</strong> second level <strong>the</strong>re is a pulpit combined with a glass communion table in <strong>the</strong> middle.There are no seating facilities on this level. Chairs are placed on this level for <strong>the</strong> servingministers during <strong>the</strong> Lord‟s Supper or communion. This ritual activity is accompanied with<strong>the</strong> washing <strong>of</strong> feet <strong>and</strong> takes place on <strong>the</strong> fourth Sunday <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> month. The carpet on <strong>the</strong>rostrum is red <strong>and</strong> this red carpet furnishes <strong>the</strong> aisle. The chairs are covered in reddishbrown velvet material <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> carpet away from <strong>the</strong> aisle is reddish colour. The musicalinstruments (organ, drums, guitar, <strong>and</strong> electronic portable organ) <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> music group areplaced to <strong>the</strong> left <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> congregation on <strong>the</strong> first level <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> rostrum.The appearance <strong>of</strong> this environment, in which <strong>the</strong> <strong>spiritual</strong> healing services take placeillustrates <strong>the</strong> culture <strong>and</strong> characteristics <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> people <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir liking for vibrant colours.The physical environment <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> COGIC differs from that <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> URC, <strong>the</strong> layout <strong>and</strong>decoration <strong>of</strong> each church is different <strong>and</strong> this may have an effect on <strong>the</strong> way healing122

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