Good Friday

Photos by David Grealey
Woke early and spoke to Ann - it was some time since I had done so. She has Bible study on Wednesday evenings which doesn't always fit with me being available on Wednesday mornings. Mark is there for Easter and planning to come over in July so that will be nice. Claire is planning to go to Camp America. To Morning prayer with the choir singing Victoria and Anerio Christus factus est. As always the readings for today are inspiring and the Cardinal was accompanied for 4 priests in red copes. Thomas and Fr Swavek were the cantors. To the car for a sit down and reading last week's Tablet (the subscription still not sorted out!). To Westminster Abbey on the bus to join the procession of witness. There was an excellent tourn out including lots of cathedral folk. The hymns were supported by brass and members of the Passage carried the cross. I rather think more could be done to tell passersby what is happening. In Croydon we gave out leaflets explaining the procession and it was much more dramatic with a modern sung section around the cross and the actor playing Jesus taken down from the cross and carried in procession. The Cardinal spoke well and so did the minister from Westminster central hall and Canon Reiss from the Abbey. The deputy mayor of Westminster took part. Having walked in silence to the cathedral we then retraced our steps to the Abbey. There the gospel singer singing "Where you there" found that people joined in! The service ended with "When I survey" and the Peace. Returned to the car for picnic. The Solemn liturgy was as always beautiful and moving. Liz was communion torch and I was in front row of the nave. We venerated the cross at the end. The passion was sung by Thomas, Fr Michael Durand and the new choir tenor who has a lovely high light voice almost alto in timbre. Ross Kempsell fainted near the end but he was OK. Earlier I had asked him about coming to the reunion of the Lent groups to talk about the Sydney World Youth day and he agreed to come after his June exams. The choir sang Victoria, Poulenc Tristis and Casals O vos omnes - wonderful.
Terence met us at the car (he had been at the Abbey liturgy) and we drove to Coulsdon arriving just after 6. Adrian played and we had a splendid choir (4 altos, 3 tenors, 3 basses). The Cross of Christ is an excellent service if a little dated in language. I remember it as a 10 year old in 1956 and so does Terence! All went well and there were 32 in the congregation which was good. Vickie very pleased. I told the choir I had not heard such good singing for some time! The Goss "O saviour of the world" makes a fitting climax. Mozart "Ave verum" Ouseley "Is it nothing to you?" two Bach chorales and Hilton "Lord for thy tender mercy's sake" are the other anthems and plenty for all to sing. We gave Francis a lift to Croydon Parish church and listened to the CD of Palestrina Lamentations.