A quick trip through the Underground and we find our hotel in the general area of Kings Cross and St. Pancras.
Makaila had spent but a day here last week before the train journey (Laura and I have been here many times before) and we insisted that she had to go to the epicenter of the tourist area so we went directly to Big Ben and Westminster Abbey. You can't get any more London/British than that.
I suppose it there is but one Cathedral to see, Westminster Abbey is the one. Perhaps St. Paul's. But we have been spoiled. This past week we've been to eight others and it is difficult to now compare. Yes, Westminster has statue upon statue and when you are walking around inside the cathedral, you are walking on the grave sites or plaques to commemnorate great men and women, many of whom this Ohio boy actually knows.
But the crowds! It was Friday afternoon and the que still had people whom were being let in, in small groups. In Lincoln the other day, the cathedral which is every bit the same size as Westminster, there were probably only 50 people in the entire cathedral in the afternoon. When it came time for Evensong the church officials went around the cathedral and recruited people to come. I imagine maybe a couple hundred a day visit unless a tour bus hits town. York Cathedral is the same size as Westminster too. Which begs the question: "why would the small cities of Lincoln and York get mega-sized cathedrals like Westminster Abbey in London?" And I guess the answer is because then they were all built around 1100 AD....those three towns were about the same size. London was not the world class sized city it is today. I would highly recommend a quick trip up to Lincoln or York when in London in order to check out these three amazing structures for yourself.
We deicded that we wanted to experience Evensong at 5 pm. And that que began at the other door in a half hour, so we went down the street to see the Queens Horse Guard (or some such designation) This regiment troops down the Mall for the Changing of the Guard each day and it begins here. But we read that 4 pm there was some sort of mini-changing of the guard at the stables.
Horses and Redcoats.
Londoners and tourists can't get enough of it all. Just down the street was #10 Downing Street and hundreds of people were behind baracades looking down the steet at THE Door. Laura asked what the crowd was about and a toursit replied, "It's #10 Downing Street!"
"But you can't see anything but barriers and cops." she said to no one.
And indeep you could not, but that is not the point, this is London and SOMETHING is supposed to be happening around every turn, when in reality not much but traffic and tourists. All you need for excitement and a gathering of tourists is to have a half dozen police congregate in one place...even if for donuts....and a crowd of photo snapping tourists instantly materialize. Houses of Parliament...Big Ben, The Thames.....so what....but LOOK....police! It must be something important!
Still, the Horse Guard or whatever put on a good show.
Though to be honest, I kept expecting them to break into a "Gilbert and Sullivan" chorus.
But, back to Westminster for 5 pm Evensong. The que is forming at 4:15, one tourist is arguing with the officiails behind the fence in the courtyard. But everybody else lines up and at 4:30 we are let in. We enter and are hearded to a spot inside then at 4:45 we are seated. I imagine a couple hundred are present. Probably a handfull are Anglican and the rest tourists who want to see the Cathedral for free and experience the pagentry of an Evensong service in the great Westminster Abbey.
The choir of boys and men do not disappointed when it comes to responses in the liturgy.
Evensong consists of Scriptures, hymns, the choir singing responses and a bit of dignified walking and being led by a man (in Lincoln, a woman) who carries this staff and accompanies the reader to the podium. Along the way they bow to the altar. It's 45 minutes of ritual that fascinates people and it's done with dignity and grace.
Strange to think about our informal worship services and yet ours in which I participate look like high church compared with modern American auditorium worship set like a Nashville concert. We still have robed clergy and robed Acolytes who light the candles and process down the aisle.
Twenty years ago, there was the notion in Church Growth seminars that if you did not convert to big screen jumbo-tron screens and install a Starbucks in the narthex and instist that your minisiter be called Rev. Bobby or Rev. Debbie....then you were doomed. Soon to wash up on the beach of dead churches.
But, I don't hear that anymore. People like ceremony if only for the order and dignity it provides in an increasingly casual world. The churches with Rev. Jimmy will continue to survive and thrive and those with less casual ways of referencing the clergy will also thrive. In short, ministries and churches will survive not based on their worship style but on whether the church is being ministered to propberly by its clegry and lay leadership.
And a quick trip to Buckingham Palace. Once again, thousands milling around waiting for something to happen, and nothing does. But, it's fun just to be there all the same.
Peace, Bob
Beautiful pic of the girls! Looks like you had a wonderful day in London!
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