The organist librarian

Brilliant organ day at Bloomsbury Baptist. Dame Gillian Weir discussing her King of instruments TV series. Inspired playing from Richard Gowers and Nikita Chekshin. Impressed by RAM students. I told one he should wear shoes!  Philip Norman  challenged us to reintroduce interludes in hymns. Best to warn the clergy and congregation! Rebecca and Des at mass. Liz took the boys to Mass at Anerley and Dennis, Ann Marie and Henry came. They went off to bed happily at 8.45. Watched new dance works. Flurry of emails about the motions for conference and the public speaking competition. 

Liz to servers Mass. Road closed by police outside Safeways so just missed train. I went to Queen's chapel of the Savoy. Philip Berg welcomed us and played Bach and Elgar Imperial march and a piece by a Victorian organist of the church. I played Andrew Moore and really enjoyed looking round the robing room and the Lancaster Hall. Steak and kidney pudding at the Wellington in the Strand - long wait for it but it was very good. For some reason the Strand one way was closed so got bus from Trafalgar Square to St Patrick, Soho where  Breda eventually arrived. I played some Stanley - the short swell was confusing. All agreed it is a lovely instrument. Bloomsbury Baptist I turned for Philip Luke who played some Bach and Bedard based on a Canadian Huron carol. I too played some Bedard then off to Vespers and Mass with Fr Alexander and choir of St George Sudbury. Dennis came down for dinner with Louise and the boys were in bed.

Liz to college and then marriage preparation at the cathedral. More reading on Judaism and Christianity. To Bloomsbury Baptist for Toccata and fugue+ Doug Tang formerly Croydon Minster now King's Cambridge played Bach and Jongen Sonata Eroica and a horrid new toccata by Bernard Heyes. Martin Ball, Christopher Town and Gary Sieling there and spoke to Margaret Phillips. Gary Cole spoke about her Bach recording project and showed slides and DVD of highlights. Charles Andrews from All Saints Margaret Street played Saint-Saens and Durufle superbly. I left as John Mander was starting. Fr Alexander at Mass and Cardinal Vaughan school choir sang Palestrina. Watched Ancient Rome programme and Songs of Praise from Dunblane. Spoke to Bruce in his mansion and he showed us the facilities. Food looks good!

Liz to college. A hot day. To St Ethelburga's for the start of the Westminster Interfaith and then by train to Manor Park  - a very good turnout and good to see familiar faces and new ones including Heythrop students and young people. To Sri Muragan temple (Sri Lankan Hindu) which was pretty chaotic but we did get some food and drink then walked to Froud centre for lunch and St Michael's church. Good to see the Anglican priest who was at Muslim/Christian forum and impressed by their Bible/Qur'an joint study. Bus to Imamia mission which is Iraq/Syrian Shi'a then bus to Mile End with Melanie from Liz's class and to Bloomsbury Baptist for Marilyn Harper's recital. She wore a short dress 70s style!  She played Reinken, Sweelinck, Jane Joseph and Guilmant - left after first movement of the first sonata. Smoke vespers and Pentecost Vigil Mass with Fr Michael - me lending him an arm on the stairs. TV programme on Northern ballet.

Woke at 5 a.m. knowing I had to be up by 6.15. Got 6.50 from Selhurst and 7.35 Oxford Tube. In Oxford by 9 a.m. which was too early but had time to walk part of the organ tour route! Excellent discussion between the Archbishop of Canterbury and Eliza Griswold about "The Tenth parallel" and read half the book. Michael Barnes was in the Sheldonian. To Blackwells shop and coffee and croissant at Costa. To Walton centre at Christ Church cathedral school to hear Elif Shafak talk about her life an "Honour" - she was so interesting about why she writes and why we read novels. To Christ Church meadows to Sunday Times literary festival marquee. Oxford tube back in London by 3 p.m. Tea and then recital at Bloomsbury Baptist where you can see the console on the screens. Mo Wah Chan played Karg-Elert and Durufle. David Graham played the Wedge and then we had duets. I left before the Langlais to get bus in time for vespers. Paul there and all went well. St Mark Passion for Palm ...