Bell ringing - no local bands

I have been on a bellringing outing today - it is the only ringing I do now. We visited three churches.

The first church had a fair set of bells although I didn't like them. There was no local band although peals have been ring there (sooner them than me). There was a small but well-built organ although mouse droppings were causing problems internally.

The second had some lovely light bells which handled beautifully and the church itself was extremely pleasant. The organ console was extremely tidy which tells me a lot. There had been a local band as was evident from the notice board. The chap who let us in told us that some ringer or other had poached all their ringers and was getting a bad name in the area for putting off other potential ringers. Why does the church not sort this out?

Tower three was one where I had been before. The bells were rehung for the millenium or at least overhauled. They go tolerably well although one should not rush them as some of the band were apt to do. I know the organ is unplayable (and has possibly been removed) because water damage caused £50,000 worht of damage.

As I go around churches I see much the same in mnay placaes. Dust, relics from the past, a failure to tidy up and a make do and mend attitude. In other well-heeled places there is obvious care and a comfortable environment.

Church websites

Many churches now have websites. Unfortunately many of those I have needed to look at are out of date and display erroneous information whereas some are right up to date. 

To find a church one place to go is https://www.achurchnearyou.com/ but I usually just Google the place I am interested in.

As usual the local webmaster is probably a volunteer unless a parish can afford to emply a web content company.

Boris

Boris, our PM, has to go and I am pleased to see that some in the church believe this is indeed the case. Given that Christians believe that one should tell the truth I cannot see that the church can do any other than to object to the PM's deeds, words, actions, outlook, attitudes, wriggling and delaying tactics ("Let's wait for the Sue Gray report")

My parents were staunch Conservatives. I could never vote Labour but the country needs good government. At present we do not have it.

Which art in heaven

The Radio 4 morning service today was from St George's Chapel, Windsor and was a service of Matins. Matins is not as common these days as it once was so it was good to hear it done well.

I particularly liked the old language of the Lord's Prayer.

Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

The C of E needs to hold onto the traditions of the past. I doubt that other faiths have updated their prayers for years!

People and worship

Small congregations: fact.

This has to be seen in the following context. I played the organ at a local church flower festival this week for an hour on two afternoons. I am told that there was a constant trickle of people during this hour and there was certainly plenty of conversation and interest in the displays near the organ. When I went for my free cream tea the church hall was packed.

I conclude that people are not anti-church as such. In fact they are keen on supporting their local churches and would be devastated were the church to close. Hence, the problem must be that people are not interested in religion, the style of worship offered by the church or sitting in a building for an hour being brainwashed.

What is a church service? It is an hour in which people mumble a few words now and then, sing very badly, get told how wicked they are and spend a few minutes actually praising their creator.

They get told to carry Christ into their daily lives and show him to others. With so many misguided decisions and dishonesty in the world it is easy to get downhearted and fail to do this.

• Partygate and obfuscation from the PM
• The use of bee-killing pesticides
• The stupidity of government in the proposed return to Imperial measures
• Road building on good farm land
• House building on good farm land
• Immigration (unchecked)
  
• the NHS
• Huge salaries for CEOs
• The general malaise in society
• Oh, and war in the Ukraine
• Pollution
• Rising prices
  

What a world we live in. No wonder people do not see the relevance of church. We may pray for things to get better but people have been doing that since the psalms were written.

Odd then, that a few flowers can make then flock to a building.

Busy June

I am busy. I am playing for services every Sunday this month except one and for a Flower festival today and tomorrow. I also have two funerals to play for and a renewal of marriage vows.

The sad thing is that both the funerals both include "All Things Bright and Beautiful" which I have previously mentioned is a terrible hymn.

One of the funerals has come with the instruction to play something uplifting on the way in and on the way out. Talk about vague.

Different organs

Today I am trying out 2 organs. One is in a church where I am filling in for a few weeks until August (not every week) and is 17 miles away from me. It is a nice 2-manual extension organ with a pleasant touch. The stop tabs are arranged in a non-standard order in that the pedal stop tabs are in the middle:; the Swell are on the left and Great on the right.

I am writing this before going out to church #2 which is 17 miles in another direction: I don't usually give places but it is, in fact, at Cold Ashby. It is a small 1-manual organ with very few stops. Essentially they just want hymns for the funeral. Three are sung and there is one each for the entrance and exit.

I have been warned that the organ is not played much and could well be dusty!