Confirmation

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. It was very warm and sunny so I left Liz there and went to visit the garden at 20 Rollscourt Avenue Herne Hill. This was described as a woodland garden with a lovely room leading out into the garden. Had Earl Grey tea and a cake. All in aid of charity.
To St John's for evensong - Howells Coll Reg (come poor tuning) and Elgar "The spirit of the Lord". We sang a hymn "Our Lord his passion ended" from New English Praise to a tune "Naphill" by Harold Darke who I met in the 1970s. Adrian played Elgar's Imperial march.This is the first Pentecost since 2004 when I have not been playing.