The organist librarian

Bruce working on wooden raised beds in back garden. To Heythrop to sing at mass - Helen Walsh played well. She plays at Brockley and belongs to SSG so has seen the article. We had to wait to get into chapel as there was an Anglican Eucharist to celebrate St George's college, Jerusalem. I otld one of the ladies about the kneelers from Coulsdon in St George's cathedral and she knew them. To coffee and then the library, Met Fr Xavier and Ahmad, also Mike from Liz's group. Worked on essay - earlier I had uploaded declaration fors and got them worng so emailed Michael. Early at the cathedral for Mass. The European Bishops conference were meeting at St Katharine's dock about relations with Muslims. They went to vespers. Met young priest from  Denver and Fr Joseph Ellul from Malta. He is a Dominican he lectures in Arabic at the Gregorian university. Lovely singing at Mass and I was mitre. Jon Dal Din came and met Cardinal Tauran - who is quite frail and very French. He said y...

Icon from Bethlehem In the morning we sang "Hail blessed Virgin Mary" and the Wood Mass setting. The Russian Orthodox Kyries went particularly well. At the rehearsal after the first hymn there was much chatter so I just waited for silence before continuing. Spoke to a lady about the Jerusalem cathedral kneelers - she took one there in 1988 from Woodmansterne. Liz came for the Nine lessons at 5 p.m. The rehearsal went well and so did the service. We enjoyed nice eats and drink in the vicarage and everyone was most complimentary. Vickie clearly delighted that i had licked them into shape! The repertoire was straightforward with one lovely new carol "The marvellous birth" by Bib Chilcott. On TV BBC4 enjoyed Christmas Oratorio from Weimar.