Open House day - Architecture in the flesh

Liz had spent the night at Grandma's and she is making good progress. I chatted to Ann and Dennis on Skype. Ann has fluid in her ears from the flight and has had physio for it. Claire's birthday today! Set off in glorious sunshine to visit All Saints, West Dulwich. This church had a disastrous fire. The architects took the group on a tour of the complex and explained how they had made the formerly dark church open and welcoming and created spaces in the big building for the community. I liked the simplicity and clean lines. The choir gallery is accessible by lift and in fact the disabled can get to most parts of the complex! There are plans for a Kenneth Tickell organ. We often drive past this church and know 2 members Jean and Audrey so it was great to see it.
By 3 buses to Kensington High Street to visit the Armenian church of St Sarkis built in the 1920s. Small and delightful and again a warm welcome. I popped into St Mary Abbots which I sued to attend 34 years ago. It is still dark and gloomy with so many remembrance tablets but it is good to read of 5 children's groups on a Sunday. I used to go to the service there after singing with Liz at Our Lady of Victories in Kensington High Street where we were married.
Then to the Greek Orthodox cathedral in Moscow Road, Bayswater. Here there was no sign of Open House day and preparations were in hand for a wedding. I was amazed to hear an electronic keyboard accompanying the fine professionsl (?) choir rehearsing Ave Maria by Schubert! I had assumed the Orthodox would not allow any organ! It was good to see the family arriving with the traditional censers and gifts. Some very fine icons! The photos show the magnificent mosaics and the Gothic ones are at Paddington - Sir Ninian Comper's earliest efforts which he later thought too German Gothic!
On the 36 bus to Harrow Road to visit St Mary Magdalene, Paddington on the canal. A very fine Comper crypt in need of attention because of damp. Loved the plainsong painted on the walls and the Gothic decoration. Beautiful Comper vestments and organ case. The roof is being done at the moment at vast expense supported by Westminster council and English Heritage. Durufle played the organ here for the first British performance of his Missa Cum Jubilo in 1968 and there is an annual All Souls day sung Mass using obscure French requiems accompanied by the Willis organ.
Visited the new Westminster Academy. I feel sorry for the cleaners with so many dark carpets and floors. The use of colour is effective and the facilities are state of the art with cameras, projectors and computers galore! Nice library and lecture room and a welcome cup of tea and sandwiches.
Last stop St Barnabas, Pimlico - the first Oxford movement designed church in England and very fine. Basil Harwood is buried here and the organist is the blind David Liddle.
To the cathedral where we were joined by Bishop Bernard Longley and lots of servers from St John's Islington. I looked after the thurifer among other things. At one point I had to move quickly to light 6 consecration torches!
To Grandma's for supper and she is coping well with the improvements.