The organist librarian

Good chat to Ann. Trains affected by signals failure and came back on buses. St John's Caterham fete. Several people had a go on the organ. Good to meet people. Gave Jonathan Heaton a lot of Paul's organ muisc - Marilyn Harper is his teacher. Nice hot dog and bought an elephant which needed a wash, watercolour pencils and cakes. To Mass at St Edmund's Beckenham (recorded music from Handel's Messiah cut off short - it's like slashing a masterpiece). A good homily from Fr Beck. Appeal from finance committee. To St George's Beckenham for the Sixteen Palestrina, Allegri and best of all James MacMillan. Saw Janey Maxwell and her Mum, Ian, Nick Wibberley and his fiancé. A good audience too but such a pity the programme had no texts and translations.

Lie-in. Ironing and emails. To Central music library and got 100% of scores on my list. Fr Michael at Mass - only 4 of us at Vespers - priests in Walsingham. The mass was long as we had an appeal for Apostleship of the sea and the Cardinal Vaughn schola sang Palestrina and Mawby. Louise brought the boys and we practised the Rutter, Gloria and psalm for the 17th. Watched by royal appointment about Steinways and jewellery. Programme on Heathrow.

Did more work on Liz's Power Point and some reading. Liz took Bruce shopping and he came for dinner - still uncertain about going to New Zealand. To Croydon Minster for concert by The Sixteen - lovely Palestrina and MacMillan. Not so keen on the "new" version of Allegri Miserere! Saw Janet Marshall and Veronica Kearsley, also Diana Quinn and Ann McGee and a couple I examined for their Bronze! Buses back to Selhurst.

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!

Swam 26 because I was late. To Heythrop to hand in finance forms - charges have gone up. Met Michael Smith resplendent in blazer and off sailing for a fortnight. Meeting with Fr Rocco about interfaith sharing. Jonathan Gorsky said he had 2 lectures on Thursday but that is the day that suits my class! Wednesday next term but not this term please! Volunteered to help at Freshers' fair next Thursday. To library. 9 to Royal Academy for the outstanding Bronze exhibition. Brian Sewell in the Standard criticised the glass cases and the lighting but some of the lighting is brilliant! Loved the Roman satyr, Il porcellino, beautiful horse's head, Indian Gods - some remarkable work. To Tate Britain to see Pre-Raphaelites - not my favourite art but I did like the Paradise room with furnishings and carpet. Lots of people at both places. Wait for 88 bus and Michael Redman saw me outside the Abbey. Combined evensong with the Cathedral choir - Stanford psalm, Clucas responses, Palestrina, Vict...

Thursday took Ciarán and Bruce to Gambados Beckenham and read the Tablet while they enjoyed the slides and cars. To Voces 8 concert at St Peter Eaton Square - lovely church with a big organ. A lovely concert - really enjoyed it. John Wardle and Tommy Hewitt-Jones were there. Nice that we got to the group as we left so saw Chris Wardle. Louise picked us up at East Croydon as she had been out to dinner while Bruce babysat.

Lovely Victoria at morning prayer and tenebrae elements with strepitus most effective. I was mitre bearer again! To Acton and a lovely lunch cooked by Tom - scallops and salmon and chocolate mousse. Front garden now cleared and grey slate. Ciarán had a great time playing in his room and reading his new Mr Men books. To the vigil at 8.30 p.m. stunning Dvorak Mass in D, Palestrina Sicut cervus, Handel Israel great fun. Lots baptised and received and confirmed. Another fine homily. Fr Alexander sang well and we had bees twice! Fr Paolo sang the litany. Brian read and nice to see him. Concentration torch - because eminarians are there Liz has been torch all week! To the common room for champagne and drinks. Took Patrick home and got home about 1 a.m. Up OK and to Coulsdon for my last Easter there. Baptism - one hymn got left out "The day of resurrection" (can't say I really like that one much) and we sang "The strife is o'er" and "Jesus Christ is risen to...

To Heythrop for mass. We sang Sicut cervus and Michael Barnes and James Sweeney said how lovely it was. I saw Jerry later and he thanked me and said I had made everyone do better! I went to find Nandos and eventually found it and the Islamic society who had already eaten lunch. Any way I gave them invites to the faith sharing. To Pauline media and used book token to buy Diarmaid Macculloch's History of Christianity. Had a chat to Brian and to Fr Dave. Dinner with Thomas and Ben and a good seminar session. Then most of us headed to Westbourne Grove to St Peter's church hall for Sufi wica and meditation with chanting for about 40 minutes beautifully explained to us. Then we had a ritual kiss of peace and soup and delicious rice. Met a journalist on the Telegraph! Left with Michael and home by midnight. Fr Rocco in Italy - his father very ill.

Saw the rest of Catholics programme 3 and heard Guildford's stunning evensong again featuring Philip Moore and John McCabe and Howells Psalm prelude set 2 no 1. Did a lot of reading including Rowan Williams (who sadly is retiring) and Timothy 1. At vespers we sang Jerusalem the golden because the liturgy begins Laetare Jerusalem. The psalm at Mass definitely imitated the song "By the rivers of Babylon" in the psalm tone - Gelineau wrote a very fine setting with Eastern feel for that psalm and Walton set it in Belshazzar's Feast. Chatted to Rose who was in the programme a lot. Amici Choro directed by Andy Scott sang Palestrina, Batten and Morley well and saw Anne Fleming at the end. Diarmaid MacCulloch on TV history of England excellent.

Too much to read so did not go to lent group at Virgo Fidelis. Liz went to Glyn Close as new bed came. To cathedral for first part of mass - Palestrina and Tallis Salvator mundi. Excellent homily on fasting from Fr Christopher. Picked up shoes for funeral as Liz got robes on Thursday but forgot them. Choir OK. 2 youths walked behind hall but by the time John came and we went back to look they had gone. Jo Richards had been received warmly last Sunday and will take practice on March 2nd. It is all looking a bit fishy like it's a setup. However let's hope All Saints comes up trumps as it is so near home! Rehearsed evensong and Tony Trent there. Watched QI.

Cold but clear. Picked up Marie and informed her that I was not coming next Sunday. Discovered this means I will not playing the Elijah extract and Boellmann Toccata I had rehearsed after all! Accompanied introit "Liebster Jesu" and "Sicut cervus" as alto not so secure and it made it tricky for  me to play and sing but managed it. Toccata in D minor at the end. Baptism of Elijah but not many there. Just a minute on radio.

Sunday Baptism of the Lord. Dubois Mass and Palestrina Sicut cervus. Coffee then Mattins with Elgar Te Deum and Bach Christ unser Herr and the Bach prelude on the tune to follow. Met Dennis at Art gallery cafe and asked about Ridsdale Tate - they have some pictures. Evensong Stanford in G with 2 excellent soloists and Gardner Tomorrow shall be my dancing day. Good chants too Bairstow, Buck. Splendid organ playing from Charles. To Bettys for afternoon tea and saw a book about 1952 when I first went there aged 5! Dennis got train to Manchester and we walked back to b and b over footbridge past the new Wheel of York. Watched Antiques roadshow and Great Barrier Reef.

Brilliant photos by Marcin Masur A nice meal at Pizza Express 2 courses for £10. The Vigil was superb - we were tapers and Communion torches. Details were changed at the last minute which is not a good idea. There was a scare when Emmanuel was carrying the lit EAster candle up the ladder to the stand after the baptisms. The candle went to the right and he ws lucky not to fall. Vierne Messe solenelle stunning, Palestrina Sicur cervus, Bassano motet.Langlais at the end. Archbishop Vincent gave a wonderful homily about the risen human body of Christ once again quoting the Pope. He brought a human touch to the baptisms handing the towel to the candidate himself and thanking Fr Tim for his hard work. It was good to be able to thank Martin, Peter and David personally. We started at 8.30 p.m. and finished at 11.10 p.m.

Woke at 6 and wrote first draft of the Christmas letter. To Islamic centre near Ladbroke Grove - we were late and only 4 turned up for the tour. Faheem made is very welcome and we stayed for middday prayers and answered questions. To Kensington High Street Trailfinders to find out about New Zealand and draft tour came this evening. I was acolyte with Ross at broadcast vespers from the cathedral and at Mass of the Immaculate conception. The choir were superb - Parsons Ave Maria, Palestrina Magnificat. The Archbishop gave an excellent homily but it was very hot sitting on the bench. The Apprentice was good but Liz should not have gone! Bruce has arrived!

Buses to church although snow had gone on roads. Took some retirement cake which was much enjoyed. Choir sang "I look from afar" by Palestrina really well. I played Bach Wachet auf and Thiman on Winchester New. The Byrd 3 part Kyries going well too. Got train from Coulsdon South at 11.46 and to Dartmouth Castle at Hammersmith for lunch and family party for Ciarán who was on great form walking about. Nice that Mia came too. Had shank of lamb. Lovely chocolate cake decorated by Louise. Antiques roadshow on return home and Art of Germany with Andrew Graham-Dixon.

Swam 40. Busy at work transferring files about BTP onto a memory stick for my successor. To St Paul's cathedral on 344 and arrived early. Westminster Cathedral choir sang vespers and we were acolytes. Lovely Palestrina Magnificat and Brucker Virga Jesse. Robert Quinney plaed Dupre Prelude and fugue in A flat - stunning ending. Martin Ball was there. To chapter house for wine and sandwiches - big spread! Spoke to Nick and John English who is getting married again. Train to Coulsdon and practice. Liz picked me up there and drove to near Chelmsford - Oak Lodge very nice b and B and DIY breakfast in conservatory.

To 10.45 a.m. Red Mass which is attended by the judges and QCs. The choir sang Palestrina Dum complerentur motet and Mass. Bishop Arnold presided and there was much Latin! We were acolytes. There is talk of us sitting at the back again which won't do as we cannot hear and it gets very hot in winter! Much better to be in the choir stalls. Saw Muriel who taught with Liz and her son. Bishop Longley is to be new Archbishop of Birmingham - he is so charming and always remembers names and thanks everyone. We will miss him very much. Saw Fr Allen Morris in Victoria station. Home to start painting the kitchen ceiling and walls - nice ivory colour. Had not been done for 8 years and lots of cobwebs and one large spider! A lovely day again with a touch of autumnal coolness. Still no sign of birthday cards in the post! Victorian Farm was interesting on BBC2.

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...

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 jolly Juan Miro picture which was in the bedroom at the Wurzburg b and b! The library is busy as it is school holidays and the elderly are renewing their freedom passes which now give free travel on local buses throughout England! The heating is back on as we have a new boiler. To Catenian circle AGM and meeting and Kevin Ingram is our new President for the year with the 1000th meeting next February. Col;in brought me home - he was at Tony Blair's lecture and his daughter was involved in the Olympic flame's progress across London which was disrupted by anti-China demos about Tibet. he had said the demonstrators were violent but it looked to me from the TV that the Chinese guards were equally bad.It is also the centenary year and we are going to the annual conference in Manchester in May. Watched Sacred music parts 1 and 2 presented by Simon Russell Beale - one of the altos in The Sixteen sings in Westminster Cathedral choir. Interesting to see the history of polyphony and wh...