Church of the Holy Lance

Logo of the Church of the Holy Lance

The Church of the Holy Lance is the state church of Nova England. The Guardian of the Lance is the most senior cleric (Currently Ethbin Mercer). It traces its history to the early churches established during the conversion of the Faedertellus from Nova English Paganism to Christianity.

The governing structure of the church is based on ‘laeths’, each presided over by a Lance Bearer. Within each laeth are local hides. The governing body of the church is known as the council of laeths and is formed by both Lance Bearers and laypeople selected by lottery to attend gatherings.

Doctrine & Practice

The canon law of the Church of the Holy Lance identifies the Christian scriptures and the Book of The Holy Lance as the sources of its doctrine. Much of the teachings and outlooks of the church are heavily influenced by early Nova English proto-religions and the reverence of martial prowess.

Worship & Practice

Churches and other places of worship generally only feature regular services on Sundays and religious holidays. Outside of these regular services, followers are able to attend their place of worship to pray, study or speak with the priest. Services will usually feature readings of the Bible or Book of the Holy Lance, hymns, prayer and homilies.

• Common Hymns of the Church of the Holy Lance
• Common Prayers of the Church of the Holy Lance

Membership

Membership of the Church of the Holy Lance is believed to be at 1.4 Million baptised followers spread throughout Mercurian Nova England and the Kingdom of Nova England. Following the collapse of the Kingdom in 992AJ and the integration of New Sussex into the Republic of Mercury, membership declined from 2 million followers to around 700,000 practicing members. However following the re-emergence of the Faedertellus and its ongoing territorial expansions, this number rapidly increased.

Structure

The Church is structured as follows;

• Hide: A Hide is the most local level of the church, generally featuring one church building and community. It is run by the Hide Priest who organises and leads services and other functions within their appointed Hide.

• Laeth': A Laeth refers to a grouping of Hides, usually based on the structure of existing regional boundaries. These are presided by a Lance Bearer who is selected by the Hide Priests every three years. The role of the Lance Bearer is to ensure order within their Laeth through regular meetings and represent their Laeth at the Council of Laeths.

• Council of Laeths: The Council of Laeths represents the legislative and overall governing body of the Church of the Holy Lance. Consisting of Lance Bearers representing their Laeths and an equal number of church goers chosen at random by lottery to attend individual council gatherings. The Guardian of the Lance acts as the presiding officer of the Church and the council but may only vote on matters where a vote has been tied.

Priesthood

Hide Priest assisting his congregation during the War of the Casks

Trial by Fire brand can be seen on the priest's left arm

Unlike some Christian denominations, all offices of worship within the Church of the Holy Lance are open to both genders on the basis that all those capable of enduring the Trials of the Lance are selected by God. Aspiring priests begin their service at the College of St John in West Grinstead, where they are provided the teachings of the church. After which they are required to participate in the trials of the lance to become a shadow to a Hide Priest in their appointed Hide. All appointed priests are permitted to marry and have children.

The Trials of the Lance are a series of tests created to prove that the aspiring priest has the approval and backing of God in their chosen profession. Those that fail are unable to pursue priesthood but are sometimes able to find other positions within the church. The trials consist of;

• Trial by Combat; Two priests armed with wooden staffs fight until one is either knocked unconscious or surrenders.
• Trial by Truth; The aspiring priest is asked questions about the Book of the Holy Lance and must recall these correctly.
• Trial by Endurance; This trial requires the aspiring priest to survive with no outside help in a secluded wilderness location for a period of three days.
• Trial by Temptation; The aspiring priest will be offered a bribe or other vices, which they must resist.
• Trial by Judgement; A panel of priests from the college, judge the performance of the aspiring priest during their schooling at the college.
• Trial by Fire; Like the metal blade of the Holy Lance, the aspiring priest must be baptised in fire. They are required to walk over burning coals, before being branded on their left arm with the mark of the church. Before finally being baptised in water which represents the quenching of the metal. The mark itself signifies that no priest can hide their identity as a chosen voice and teacher of God.

Senior Church Figures

• 
  Guardian of the Lance Ethbin Mercer
• 
  Lance Bearer Oswine Shepweald of New Sussex
• 
  Lance Bearer Margaret Hild of Newcastle Upon Eastmoor
• 
  Lance Bearer Herewulf Killer of Murlay
• 
  Lance Bearer Wlencing Carter of Warcester
• 
  Lance Bearer Odard Cotter of Prikhelm
• 
  Lance Bearer Saebeorht Sadler of Port Neil
• 
  Lance Bearer Alfwaerd Piper of Arkmunster
• 
  Lance Bearer Holbert Daldon of Ramshorn
• 
  Lance Bearer Madulf Chaplin of Detsab
• 
  Lance Bearer Sigelac Spittle of Saker Keep
• 
  Lance Bearer Joseph Blaec of South Valleys
• 
  Lance Bearer Wilgils Archer of Northern Valleys
• 
  Lance Bearer Emma Warf of Travercraig
• 
  Lance Bearer Ricola Carpenter of Arbinton