A Traditional Sunday?
5 Things About the Sunday Service
Yesterday I went to hear Alex's brother Ollie, singing at a Confirmation & Communion service at Magdalen College Chapel in Oxford.
1. I have been to church quite a few times now with Alex's family, as it's a big part of their life. I don't mind going with them at all, and I always enjoy the music. It's also quite interesting for me, but as a Godless heathen, I do feel slightly awkward when they're all squeezing past me to go and take Communion.
2. Magdalen Chapel is lovely. Three rows of pews facing each other, made from carved wood with candles along each row. Above them are rows and rows of stained glass windows depicting all the saints. It was very atmospheric sitting there with all the choir boys, the incense and the candles, and you could really feel the years of tradition wrapped up in the service.
3. Any awkwardness was worth it for the music, which was beautiful. They sang the Eucharist and helped us all out with the hymns. The choir boys ranged from age 7 (tiny cute blond boy) to uni scholars, Ollie's age in their early twenties. The previous night had been the end of exams for the final year so at least a third of the choir were struggling with hangovers and trying not to throw up all over their service books.
4. It was (I think), a very formal service, with the Bishop of Peterborough & another minister, three female assistant people in black robes who had to carry candles around and wave incense. Also, after the five candidates had been confirmed, the Bishop brought a bowl of holy water down among the pews and flicked us all with water. Not a single drop touched me, which I thought was kind of fitting.
5. Magdalen College Chapel backs on to one of the Main Roads in Oxford, which meant that there is always a risk of your declaration of faith in God being interrupted by a siren or a heavy thumping bassline. We escaped with just one police car.
Yesterday I went to hear Alex's brother Ollie, singing at a Confirmation & Communion service at Magdalen College Chapel in Oxford.
1. I have been to church quite a few times now with Alex's family, as it's a big part of their life. I don't mind going with them at all, and I always enjoy the music. It's also quite interesting for me, but as a Godless heathen, I do feel slightly awkward when they're all squeezing past me to go and take Communion.
2. Magdalen Chapel is lovely. Three rows of pews facing each other, made from carved wood with candles along each row. Above them are rows and rows of stained glass windows depicting all the saints. It was very atmospheric sitting there with all the choir boys, the incense and the candles, and you could really feel the years of tradition wrapped up in the service.
3. Any awkwardness was worth it for the music, which was beautiful. They sang the Eucharist and helped us all out with the hymns. The choir boys ranged from age 7 (tiny cute blond boy) to uni scholars, Ollie's age in their early twenties. The previous night had been the end of exams for the final year so at least a third of the choir were struggling with hangovers and trying not to throw up all over their service books.
4. It was (I think), a very formal service, with the Bishop of Peterborough & another minister, three female assistant people in black robes who had to carry candles around and wave incense. Also, after the five candidates had been confirmed, the Bishop brought a bowl of holy water down among the pews and flicked us all with water. Not a single drop touched me, which I thought was kind of fitting.
5. Magdalen College Chapel backs on to one of the Main Roads in Oxford, which meant that there is always a risk of your declaration of faith in God being interrupted by a siren or a heavy thumping bassline. We escaped with just one police car.
posted by Becky @ 10:26 am
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