I do not see anything on this topic in the De consecration, part III of
Gratian's Decretum. The concept of redundant churches probably was foreign
to the medieval clergy. There are provisions for reconsecration of
desecrated churches and even for celebrating mass in a church that has had
a fire, but permanent deconsecration probably never was thought of.
Tom Izbicki
At 11:34 AM 2/7/2001 +0000, you wrote:
>I don't know of any cases of medieval deconsecration, though I do know of
>churches falling out of use. One thing you would have to do would be to
>remove the relics from the altar, and put them somewhere safe. Beyond that,
>no idea.
>Pat Cullum
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Madeleine Gray [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
>Sent: 07 February 2001 11:31
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: cathedrals
>
>
>Someone mentioned the rite for the deconsecration of cathedrals. Does
>anyone know how a parish church was deconsecrated in the medieval period -
>or indeed how it is done nowadays? I am having surprising difficulty
>finding out. Our Museum of Welsh Life at St Fagans is currently
>reconstructing a medieval church with a remarkable set of wall paintings.
>The church was deconsecrated in the 1970s but the diocese seems to have no
>recollection of how it was done.
>
>Maddy
>
>
>Dr Madeleine Gray, in the foothills of God's golden county of Gwent
>(Department of Humanities and Science
>UWCN Caerleon Campus
>PO Box 179
>Newport NP18 3YG
>Tel: +44 (0)1633.432675
>http://humanities.newport.ac.uk/history.html)
>
>'Reading is sometimes an ingenious device for avoiding thought'
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