The organist librarian

34th Westminster interfaith peace walk and a pleasure to meet Eric and Michael Barnes who were there in the 80s. The Thai Buddhist temple lovely and the Ahmadiyya mosque at Morden one of the largest in Western Europe huge dome. I tried the Design museum but the Kubrick exhibition was sold out for the day so enjoyed cake and tea at Cafe Tarte. Met Ciaran from St Andrew's Thornton Heath who was serving at the huge Marriage Mass. Saw Roger. Showed Michael how to serve Vespers and he did really well. Fr Daniel celebrated and the Victoria choir sang. Blessing of married couples at the end. Home to have pizza and red wine -it was lovely that Louise brought them to the mosque and a pity that they saw so little (too much talking at us). Watched Trooping repeat and part of D-Day celebrations. 

Pentecost. After the awful news I practised the Dorian. There is a God of love. I played voluntaries on Veni creator by John Cook, Alec Wyton and Eric Thiman. 2 of the school choir joined us and they sang well. We sang Like the murmur by  Alan Smith . One of the songs asked for s second Pentecost - dodgy theology?  To St Paul's as usual to hear Anthony Teddie speak on his book Is God colour blind? Answer No. Home for lunch,  Rather than waste 45 minutes waiting for a train probably delayed I drove to Caterham. Enjoyed evensong from St David's. 5 at Caterham for evensong played Pachelbel and Bach and we managed the psalms. Watched Versailles and Met police. Driving meant that I got home much quicker. 

Played John Cook, Bach, Wyton and Thiman on Veni creator. Straight to Selhurst and got fast train so I arrived during the first hymn at 12.15 Mass. Liz was serving with Mark. The confirmation was lovely and full of joy - we did our catechist bit helping the young people to go up. Boys and girls from Westminster school were also confirmed. Widor Toccata again at the end! Group photo and then I was off back to Selhurst. 34 came to Ian Verran's excellent recital - £107 in the collection! Quite  a few answered the questionnaire - most came from Ian's connections. He played Offenbach, Strauss, Saint-Saens, Buxtehude, Pachelbel even Chopin and Sousa. All sounded great! Dennis came and took him back to Glyn Close. To evensong where we sang Murrill and Ives Listen sweet dove. A lovely tune by Harold Darke. Dennis is considering moving down to London and changing jobs. Watched Songs of Praise, D day and programme on twin with breast cancer.

Liz to Heythrop. I sorted out emails and prepared Catenian leaflets. The server keeps going off. I went to Heythrop for the conference chaired by Michael Barnes on texts. Bridget spoke on Mary Magdalene in film and gospel. After lunch Jim Bunce on liturgy in last gospel which he claimed was written as drama possibly to be sung. The talk on David Tracy was heavy going but I enjoyed Xavier on Bhagavad Gita and the Trinity. To vespers and Mass with Fr John. Joseph served even though he will be confirmed tomorrow.Disappointed that teh sequence was not sung yet again!  Watched Pappano on the Ring and modern artists. Vicious was funny.

Liz to morning prayer and preparing for confirmation. I worked on the essay up to 3200 words which is good! I missed playing Wyton and Thiman on Veni creator! To 12.15 Confirmation with Archbishop Vincent. It was hot and long. Sad that the sequence was again said! I got the food from the kitchen to Vaughan House for the simple party which was pleasant especially as the outside area was available. I went to 3 p.m. recital by Thomas Trotter at Methodist Central hall where the organ has been rebuilt. He played from memory Handel concerto, Schumann and the Elgar sonata. Stephen Disley was there and met a man from Madras! Liz to evensong and took plates back. I had a shower and listened to 2 items from the choir book for the Queen with the score. Church Music by Julian Philips sung by Truro and Sincerity by Michael Finnissy sung by Wells. Both difficult but beautifully done. Wells also sang Skempton and Howard Goodall's Love divine.

Pentecost and we sang Veni creator and Like the murmur of the dove's song by Alan Smith. Got train from Coulsdon South to 12.15 confirmation at cathedral. 40 hort reception in hall and then to Philipino club in Hinsley Room for lunch and Philip's cake. To Jugged Hare for smoked trout. Changed trains at East Croydon - Purley would have been better as I just missed it. Short practice but all went well. Andrew Wilson was there and people were complimentary. Attwood Come Holy Ghost and Come down O love divine. Vickie had been rather too prescriptive in the booklet including don't move at the peace! Something softer at the end - played John Cook on Veni creator. Bishop Alan Chesters was good. Nice cake in hall.

Here is Fr Michael with the Archbishop's chaplain at the musicians party last year on the same terrace! As I had the day off from Coulsdon (open air service for Pentecost in the park) we headed for the cathedral in a laden car. I was cross at Morning prayer and Consecration torch at 10.30 a.m. Mass. The boys sang the sequence "Veni sancte spiritus" beautifully and we had the Palestrina mass Dum complerentur and Tallis motet Loquebantur. Straight into 12 noon confirmation at which I was acolyte and the Archbishop preached a great homily. The 40 youngsters were confirmed on the sanctuary and stayed up there with their sponsors. Liz did the prayers and Fr Swavek went to tell her to get closer to the mike! The chaplain from Westminster school was sitting where the Archbishop of Canterbury sat for the installation! I cleared up and then into the hall for coke and nibbles. Lovely photo of Fr Michael and the 4 catechists then we went up to the terrace for a nice lunch with wine...

Saturday morning and back OK so got up and Liz took me in the car. To my horror I was eating bread and nutella and part of my front tooth came out! This is the tooth broken when I had the fall 2 years ago. I already have a dentist's appointment as a big filling came out last week. So now I look like I did when I played Don Basilio with a blacked out tooth! A quiet day as it was the Cup final and 37 messages on email! Set up a heritage display as the Polish books went back and we now have 2 poetry displays matching the excellent BBC4 series. To vespers (smoke) and Mass with Fr Kingsley. In Veni creator at vespers the 3rd line of plainchant was clearly wrong or a different version! We did not get the sequence at Mass nor did we have the Vigil readings. The problem with using the High altar is no exchange of Peace with the priest and giving communion to the servers seems awkward. There is even talk of not giving us the chalice in case of spillage - there are an awful lot of steps! Th...

At Coulsdon we sang Come Holy Ghost by Attwood and Nicole did well. Prefaced it with the plainsong version. I played Alec Wyton and Eric Thiman on Veni creator. Straight to the cathedral for 12.15 p.m. confirmation by the Cardinal who was on good form although hard to hear from the congregation. Liz as catechist read the sequence. Nice party in hall including salmon, cake and green cakes! Served at vespers and choir sang Elgar "The spirit of the Lord" - organ much better than last night at Oxford. Oliver Brett played Durufle at recital and I cantored at Mass including the sequence. Liz had been on the terrace with the catechists! Fell asleep watching Wild China but awoke to watch Jonathan Dimbleby in Russia.

Sunday afternoon to the organ recital at Westminster Cathedral given by Huw Williams assistant DofM of St Paul's cathedral. Bach, Heiller (not to my taste - too loud), Leighton and Durufle all based around Veni creator. To Churches together in Westminster service at St George's, Hanover Square which is a magnificent building where Handel and George II worshipped. Simon Williams of RCO fame played and directed the professional choir in 3 anthems. The service was based on materials for the Week of Prayer for Christian unity and there was an opportunity to share news so I spoke about the interfaith plans and spirituality centre at the cathedral. As a result I met lots of people who take the info leaflets! Mary Maxwell was also there from the cathedral. Indian Pentecost from PadreRob!

Come down O love divine, seek thou this soul of mine... Let earthly passions turn to dust and ashes in its heat consuming... Let holy charity mine outward vesture be, and lowliness become mine inner clothing; true lowliness of heart which takes the humbler part, and o'er its own shortcomings weeps with loathing. Bianco da Siena (d.1434) Come, Holy Spirit! Come, Father and Mother of the poor! Come, our sweet refreshment, our solace in the midst of woe, our light in darkness. Healer of our wounds, dew upon our dryness, warmth for our cold hearts. A version of Veni Sancte Spiritus the sequence for Pentecost by Carroll Stuhlmueller, C.P. Caroll Stuhlmueller's daily Biblical meditations on the readings of the day have been my companion since 1997 (10 years!) and they are still in print and worth getting! He has a gift for linking the readings together. This week has been very special with Into great silence, Gerontius, confirmation, Othello, Pat Gaffney and the Queen's gallery. ...

10 people attended the Cathedral Justice and Peace meeting addressed by Pat Gaffney of Pax Christi. She was so inspiring and spoke about interfaith work and what each of us could do. I said I thought we needed a vision of the epace that each of us can bring and that everyone can make a difference! See Isabel Losada's Tibet how one person can change the world. At the Pentecost Vigil Mass Bishop John Arnold celebrated confirmation. Liz sang the psalm and Alleluia as she is a catechist. Bishop John's homily was just right and he too spoke of the vision and inspiration we all need and how we need to look again at where we are in our faith journey. He spoke to each candidate before confirming each one - it was a lovely experience. I am sitting in the second row in the photo from "Solomon, I have surpassed thee". We sang "Come down O love divine"! Afterwards there was a reception in the hall. Thanks to Padre Rob for the Maronite and Coptic icons of Pentecost! I ha...