Figure 1.-- The boy here is Ted Walkley. We believe he is an altar boy rather than a chorister. The cabinent card portrait was made by studio was Hellis & Son. This was a concern with stdios located throughout London. So we know Ted was from London, but we do not know where. Ted was 13 years old and the portrait was taken in 1899.

Many English boys have served as altar boys in church services. The Anglican Church of England (COE) is a Protestant Church, but it retained more of Catholic liturgy than other Protestant Churches. Theologically except for the break with Rome, the COE was closer to the Cathloic than Luther's Protestant church. And of course the Catholic Church did not completely disappear in England. And after the Potato Famine in Ireland actually grew as a result of Irish immigrants. The COE continued the traditions of priests, although they were allowed to marry. They also continued the tradition of altar boys. Each church had a group of boys serving as altar boys. We do not know a great deal about COE altar boys. Nor so we know if there are substantial differences between the altar boy experience in the COE and Catholic church. Hopefully English readers will provide us some information here. Basically COE altar boys were dressed like Catholic altar boys. They both wore an alb with a surplice. The surplices cold vary. I'm not sure about the red scull caps Catholic altar boys used to wear. We see Ted Walkley here who we believe to be a COE altar boy (figure 1). As far as we can tell, the costume Ted wears is the same as Catholic altar boys wore and that modern altar boys wear. We note Tom Morris who had his portrait taken at the same London studio in 1899 wearing a slightly different alb and surplice. Being an altar boy required a considerable effot on the part of the boys. Normally the Church would plan various activities as a way of thanking the boys for their effort. We note the altars boys from St. Mary Magdalen Church in 1928 on a picnic and swimming party.

Church of England

The Anglican Church of England (COE) is a Protestant Church, but it retained more of Catholic liturgy than other Protestant Churches. Theologically except for the break with Rome, the COE was closer to the Cathloic than Luther's Protestant church.

Roman Catholics

And of course the Catholic Church did not completely disappear in England. And after the Potato Famine in Ireland actually grew as a result of Irish immigrants. The COE continued the traditions of priests, although they were allowed to marry. They also continued the tradition of altar boys.

Extent

We thought that many English boys have served as altar boys in church services. Each church had a group of boys serving as altar boys. We do not know a great deal about COE altar boys. AnEnglish reader tells us, "I write with some hesitation on this, but I don't think many Anglican churches have altar boys, though since I'm a Catholic my experience of these matters is limited. I would say that those who do would be very much of an Anglo-Catholic persuasion. But I think the Walkley boy is a Catholic choirboy, because he is holding a book which is probably a missal, and all that lace..." Another reader writes, "I thought the boy was a chorister when I saw the image. I didn't think about altar boys, so I'm not sure."

Differences

Nor so we know if there are substantial differences between the altar boy experience in the COE and Catholic church. Hopefully English readers will provide us some information here.

Altar Boy Costumes

Basically COE altar boys were dressed like Catholic altar boys. They both wore an alb with a surplice. The surplices cold vary. I'm not sure about the red scull caps Catholic altar boys used to wear. We see Ted Walkley here who we believe to be a COE altar boy (figure 1). As far as we can tell, the costume Ted wears is the same as Catholic altar boys wore and that modern altar boys wear. We note Tom Morris who had his portrait taken at the same London studio in 1899 wearing a slightly different alb and surplice.

Experience

Being an altar boy required a considerable effot on the part of the boys. Normally the Church would plan various activities as a way of thanking the boys for their effort. We note the altars boys from St. Mary Magdalen Church in 1928 on a picnic and swimming party.

Created: 9:11 PM 4/30/2008
Last updated: 2:28 AM 5/1/2008