Other Pages

Sunday 24 March 2024

Quakers

Today I did something for the first time. I went to a Quaker meeting [The Society of Friends].

I had walked past the Quaker meeting house earlier in the week and - as I knew I did not have a musical engagement this Sunday - I decided to give it a try. When I got home on Thursday I set about researching the Quakers online and found out what takes place at a meeting. I also looked into what they believe: it is quite embracing.

For me, some churches have become too noisy, too informal and totally lacking in reverence. What I like about the Quakers (so far) can be listed:

  • No Creed
  • No ritual
  • Meetings last exactly an hour
  • No sermon!
  • No priests - nobody is in charge (= everyone is equally in charge)
  • No chit-chat
  • No passing the peace
  • No distractions
  • Sustained focus on one thing
  • Peace (in the service)
There were only 5 of us present although there were chairs for 8. They have about 20 members. Like many churches they were hit by the pandemic and I think older people have never really got back into the habit of going out.
 
I can next go again in a fortnight. Let's see how it goes.
 
PS I just found this
 
 

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.