The organist librarian

Took the boys to Robot Zoo at the Horniman along with the hordes and they loved it. Ciaran held onto the bar like a bat for 50 seconds and Sean 40! Excellent fish and chips.  Excellent talk on the Prayer of the Church by Fr  Brian O'Mahony . Man Mohan Gupta and his wife on the Joy of Love. LSE radio 3 free thinking on Martin Luther with the incomparable Diarmaid MacCulloch, Peter Stanford and Ulinka Rutland so a plethora of riches. Perhaps my question will be broadcast

My second Sunday of the interregnum - there are significant changes in the congregation and new church wardens. Fr Leon sings everything including the Gospel. He is enthusiastic and clearly enjoyed my playing. We managed the psalm on minimal rehearsal and I played Ridout;s fun piece on "This joyful Eastertide" (A lady asked about this hymn - she really liked it) Archer on St Fulbert and Willan on Vulpius and also did some improvising! When practising had a go at Bach passacaglia and final section of Messiah. Service now startsa round 10.50 so it means getting to St Paul's cathedral for 1 p.m. talk unlikely. Nice chicken for lunch and watched Sex and the Church and National Gallery and Rick Wakeman on Vivaldi Four Seasons. At evensong we sang Walmisley in D minor and Wesley The Lord hath been mindful of us. Benediction. Dennis and Ann Marie came down.

Interesting session on dementia at St Matthew's then to the Royal Academy for the Diebenkorn exhibition and to Regent Street for oil painting class. Watched Diarmaid MacCulloch on sex and the church.

Had a lie-in reading MacCulloch History of Christianity which is excellent! Found another box in shed containing front room photos and decorations. Spent ages choosing 52 photos to be printed off very cheaply by Starfish. Missed train as I had forgotten my hearing aids and there was a delay getting parked. Dashed to cathedral and just ready in time. Picked up the cope to put on Fr Michael Q and was informed it was not a feast day. I said "Oh really?" Of course Baptism of the Lord is a feast day! As I went to put the cope back they left for vespers which I thought very rude as I always go to vespers. Any way rehearsed acolytes and communion torches with the 4 youngsters. It transpired Fr M had hurt his shoulder and I had to carry the gospel book for him. Peter played Jupiter from the Planets brilliantly at the end. John East met us and we found Cafe Rouge was being rebuilt so we walked to Uno and had a lovely Italian meal. I had pizza with asparagus and tiramisu. We showed hi...

Diarmaid MacCulloch's final programme on God and the English very interesting. At the heart of being English is a broad church embracing all. Watched Come dine with me.

To Heythrop for mass and then to Maria Assumpta convent for a challenging day about creation by Mary Colwell. My group came up with the idea of a Catholic environmental agency and networking. Saw shocking films of rainforest loss and wildlife. The bishops do nothing in the face of the overwhelming evidence. To vespers and Mass with Fr Paolo. Watched Diarmaid MacCulloch on English toleration and Bright star about Keats.

To Heythrop for mass. We sang Sicut cervus and Michael Barnes and James Sweeney said how lovely it was. I saw Jerry later and he thanked me and said I had made everyone do better! I went to find Nandos and eventually found it and the Islamic society who had already eaten lunch. Any way I gave them invites to the faith sharing. To Pauline media and used book token to buy Diarmaid Macculloch's History of Christianity. Had a chat to Brian and to Fr Dave. Dinner with Thomas and Ben and a good seminar session. Then most of us headed to Westbourne Grove to St Peter's church hall for Sufi wica and meditation with chanting for about 40 minutes beautifully explained to us. Then we had a ritual kiss of peace and soup and delicious rice. Met a journalist on the Telegraph! Left with Michael and home by midnight. Fr Rocco in Italy - his father very ill.

Saw the rest of Catholics programme 3 and heard Guildford's stunning evensong again featuring Philip Moore and John McCabe and Howells Psalm prelude set 2 no 1. Did a lot of reading including Rowan Williams (who sadly is retiring) and Timothy 1. At vespers we sang Jerusalem the golden because the liturgy begins Laetare Jerusalem. The psalm at Mass definitely imitated the song "By the rivers of Babylon" in the psalm tone - Gelineau wrote a very fine setting with Eastern feel for that psalm and Walton set it in Belshazzar's Feast. Chatted to Rose who was in the programme a lot. Amici Choro directed by Andy Scott sang Palestrina, Batten and Morley well and saw Anne Fleming at the end. Diarmaid MacCulloch on TV history of England excellent.