The organist librarian

Maundy Thursday went well in the round using piano and organ. Small choir coped well. John did turn up although he was on call. I did not get to communion but no matter. Not many congregation. To Morning prayer and I was mitre bearer. Beautiful Vittoria from the choir. Liz went to the Passion play in Trafalgar Square and I helped a Spanish lady get to Central Hall where we had coffee and hot cross. Met Philip, Stephen and Miriam. Good turnout and excellent addresses from Archbishop Vincent and the Mike Rayson Illinois Methodist minister at the Abbey about the death of his 11 year old son. 3 p.m. liturgy beautifully sung. Had to leave before the Casals to get to Selhurst to pick up car to drive to Coulsdon - got there 5.45. Cross of Christ went really well. Adrian played and Bob X 2, Terence, Tony and Francis sang. Greater love and the Somervell Praise to the holiest thrilling. SOme good soft singing in the Mozart and Ouseley. To White Hart Chipstead for a lemonade and took Fra...

Photos by David Grealey Woke early and spoke to Ann - it was some time since I had done so. She has Bible study on Wednesday evenings which doesn't always fit with me being available on Wednesday mornings. Mark is there for Easter and planning to come over in July so that will be nice. Claire is planning to go to Camp America. To Morning prayer with the choir singing Victoria and Anerio Christus factus est. As always the readings for today are inspiring and the Cardinal was accompanied for 4 priests in red copes. Thomas and Fr Swavek were the cantors. To the car for a sit down and reading last week's Tablet (the subscription still not sorted out!). To Westminster Abbey on the bus to join the procession of witness. There was an excellent tourn out including lots of cathedral folk. The hymns were supported by brass and members of the Passage carried the cross. I rather think more could be done to tell passersby what is happening. In Croydon we gave out leaflets explaining the pro...

A day of deep emotions. To the cathedral for 10 a.m. Morning Prayer. The choir sang Victoria Lamentations as at Tenebrae last week and we knelt for the first part of Anerio "Christus factus est". We used to sing this at Addiscombe and this day always bring back painful and joyful memories especially during the Reproaches. A great joy to see Father Mark back and singing as well as ever. To Marks for a coffee with Francis and Deacon Peter whose blog on the Stations has been an inspiration in these last days of what has been by and large a good Lent. At least I stuck to no alcohol and read "The Imitation of Christ". The Lent group "Who is my neighbour?" took 5 weeks to really get to the point of welcoming migrants in church. "Understanding Islam" will have a long term effect I know. Bishop John Arnold spoke in his homily about the bewilderment and shame of the disciples on this day. Got the bus to outside Methodist Central Hall where we joined the p...