Monday 17 July 2023

Thursday 16 February 2023

Monday 16 January 2023

Was it worth it?

I played for a once monthly Evensong yesterday and I had had to do quite a lot of work on the anthem and the psalm. There were some nine choir members, but no tenor, and only six people in the congregation, one of whom was my partner who had just come to support me rather than staying at home.

The anthem was quite long and probably better for another occasion, to be honest.

My feelings on the subject have surprised me (or perhaps they have not). Knowing the choir as I do they are all nice people and they tried their best. They have no way of knowing what size the congregation will be. I enjoy Evensong although the church is some distance from where I live.

To sum up, a genuine act of worship is always worth performing (the sermon was a little long) but if the trend continues I do not see there being Choral Evensongs happening for much longer.

Sunday 15 January 2023

Us and them

At one church where I play there are a number of people who robe and sit in the choir stalls in the chancel. However, they do not sing an anthem and the communion setting is not used (except on group service days). They just sing the hymns in harmony.

The small congregation tends to be located from the middle to the rear of the nave. It struck me that this is an 'us' and 'them' situation and one wonders what the point is.

Friday 13 January 2023

Goodbye £100m

Justin Welby defends £100m fund to ‘address past wrongs of slavery’ as churches struggle.

The Most Rev Justin Welby acknowledged fears over 'stretched' parish finances, but justified the £100 million slavery reparations fund by saying 'it is now time to take action to address our shameful past' - Anadolu Agency. (Found on Yahoo)

One commenter was sad that the church felt it needed to atone for past sins. He went on, "...because of all the parish priests and volunteers who selflessly support the day-to-day activities of the Church, yet are starved of funds and expected to do more and more by combining parishes. Meanwhile, the bureaucracy of the central Church seems to grow apace, absorbing ever more money.

My incredulity is at the astounding ability of the Church, presumably under the direction of the Archbishop of Canterbury, to jump on any woke bandwagon."

I certainly agree this is bizarre and a kick in the teeth for parishes.