I'm jet lagged. I have this ability to take a 7 minute nap anywhere and at anytime and so I sat in a chair in Canterbury Cathedral...a little off to the side and leaned my head against a 14th Century support and took "7"...4 times. By then they had locked up the Nave in preparation for the Service in the Quire (Choir)....an amazing portion of this huge place.
Anyway, I stumbbled awake, spoke to a guide and they admitted me to the part of the cathedral where the service was to take place in a few minutes.
"Are you a part of the group from Virginia or Stockholm?" enquired the usher when I asked where I could sit.
"I'm part of the Dublin Church group." I responded.
"I'm not sure where they are sitting," he replied.
"How about over here?" and I pointed to the back row and he nodded approvingly and headed off to shepherd the Stockholm Lutherans.
In preparation for the Ascension of Christ, these Anglicans were about to celebrate a "Sung Eucharist" which translated means...singing and communion, it's just that the Latin gives it more substance in the title.
I was seated next to an English couple, and soon the service began, and the procession of Acolytes and churchmen and churchwomen and candles and incense began.
"Oh no," whispered the Englishwoman to her husband (and then to me, as if she needed my approval for her next request) "I should have known they would have incense...and I'm alergic to incense! I'll have to move." Forgetting that incense would be used in a High Church Anglican Worship Service is like forgetting that a foul ball might come screaming at you in your seat at a baseball park.
She, and husband, Nigel moved to avoid a direct hit of incense. Turns out she was quite wise. One would have had to move to Dover to avoid this incense.
Choir. Organ. Dramatic lighting. Robed Clergy and Acolytes and the guy with incense.
Singing, Prayers and Glorias. We stood for the Epistle, some singing, some prayers. As a priest read the Gospel, the incense guy was nearby liberally incensing the litergist. At one point we almost lost sight of the priest amidst the smoke. But it cleared and she was able to see her way back to her seat.
The Sermon was delivered by The Archdeacon of Canterbury. She was quite good. Her voice reverberated throughout the mighty Cathedral and I was pleased that our Anglican friends whose roots in European Christianity are deep, are a part of the modern world which recognizes fully the gifts of women as well as men. Plus she had a great English accent and she could have been reading the ingredients to a frozen dinner and it would have had gravitas.
Most of the Mass was conducted by "The President"...not sure what titie that is...but he was a priest and tall and serious and if Hollywood were casting an imposing Priest for the movie, this guy would be it. Plus....that English accent! It lends itslef so well to liturgical practice. If they didn't have such an accent, they would have to make it up.
The President prayed, sung (chanted...once again....the English accent made the moment), bowed, prayed some more. Blessed the host, poured the wine. Bowed and in the meantime, the incense guy was right there incensing for good measure every significant utterance. He directed incense towards the Virginians, the Stockhomers, and I think he even blessed us Dubliners. The Priests, ushers and especially his acolyte were incensed again and again. And once again, one of the litergists was so smoked with incense that when her reading was concluded, no one could find her and we assume she had wandered off in the smoke to the chapel.
Communion began and all were welcome to partake. All. Once again, my delight at the Anglicans for there inclusion of all Christians...just as Christ would want us to do. We went to the altar, kneeled, received the host in wafer form, drank the cup of wine (fruity with just a hit of spring blossoms) from a common cup. Common cup. Good job Anglicans, I applaud you in this era of germ-o-phobia in thinking that wiping the chalice after every drink will make a difference. I liked it. The bigger threat was from the incense guy and lung infections.
Today we get our "Spirituality" from music and and seminars of solace and alone-time and time in nature or the 16th Fairway or family or some guy on TV who uses three sylables to say the name "Jesus." But some things are best experienced with sight and sound and smell taste and touch and the heart. The ancient words are intoned, the ancient creeds experience and our eyes, ears, nose and tastebuds are invited to participate.
These are modern times and this Anglican Service had ancient roots. And it certainly did not hurt that the soaring architecture of Canterbury Cathedral was providing a backdrop. Yet, as noted before, these Anglicans are fully participating in modern society with their acceptance and inclusion of all genders and persuasions. I am impressed.
With the service concluding, we walked out into the night air.
Wrote Chaucer..."Grand mercy, by my faith."
Peace, Bob
Sounds like you had quite a day at Canterbury Cathedral! Hope you are on England time now. Safe travels, enjoy.
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