The organist librarian

We sang Litany to the Holy Spirit by Peter Hurford and I played Rawsthorne on Bread of heaven and Descent from the Cross from St Matthew Passion. Service started late and 2 admitted to communion. The had to wait while Elaine rehearsed kids!  Buses were not good today and I have complained.  At evensong we had a fine Walmisley chant for Psalm 135, Willan in E flat and Crux fidelis. It wasn't great as we never rehearsed in church! Richard does bang the piano too much. To Dulwich for recital by Michael Overbury which was dire! Hildegard, JSB and Messiaen. Wests and Rossas there. 

Played Walther Jesu meine freude and Hurford on Song 34. We sang Come now O Prince of peace. Haunting simplicity. Sara Goatcher celebrated - no singing and long pauses. To the Works to collect sketch books and buy pastels. Clare came for coffee. To forum of Churches together in Crystal Palace at Spurgeons college. Fr Andrew spoke about Croydon mental health. Did not enjoy the Baptist songs with drums and tambourines. How art began with Anthony Gormley, Victorian Arts and crafts. Call the midwife and Les miserables excellent. 

Farewell to Fr Duncan. We sang Litany to the Holy Spirit Peter Hurford and I got a clap for Toccata in D minor. I would have played the fugue but no time to practise as I just missed the early train. I was on the wrong platform! So 30 minute wait. Annoying especially as everyone got up to take me to the station. I reckon the emails on my phone distracted me. Delicious family lunch at the Rosendale and good service. Really enjoyed the panto at St John's - Myles was better than ever! Sean stole the show with his laugh and on stage too! Great fun! Busy clearing up.

2 choir members in Walsingham and we sang Ave Maria by  Simon Lindley . I played Parry on Melcombe and Hurford on Song 34. Rehearsed L.J.White Prayer of St Richard first sang that as a choirboy, Andriessen and Mendelssohn 6. After Fr Daniel Trott's first mass with 2 baptisms BBQ.  Linda Baker  and I sang in the Caterham Festival evensong at St Mary's. The walk up the hill is exhausting and I rested in the cemetery and delighted to find tea and delicious walnut cake at St Lawrence's. Brewer In D, Ouseley From all that dwell, Rutter The Lord bless you and keep you, Justin Thomas responses. 3 good hymns including Thy hand O God has guided. Chris Buck at the organ. I asked about the future of evensong in the area and combining like this say once every 2 months makes a lot of sense. It was all a bit on the loud side and some more softer singing would have been good. Lift to station. Had to change at Purley and get bus from Norwood Junction to Selhurst. Antiques roadshow. Pold...

Saturday was an enjoyable day in Reading. William McVicar demonstrated the fine organ in the Town hall an untouched Willis with amusing anecdotes and Norman Harper demonstrating. There was time to see the copy of the Bayeux tapestry and the museum and lunch there. Quite a walk to and from St Giles but a fine Bishop organ in a very High Church building. Got to Mass in good time and Brian was doing the first scrutiny presenting the Creed. I haled mike and Michael the book. Went well. Fr Martin got me to take communion to the choir Byron consort from Harrow school and they sang Poulenc really well. Liz was at the hospital. Watched end of Big painting challenge Suman won, Pottery challenge was good too. Tired out. Sunday morning and evening at Caterham in between lunch and to hospital to see Henry who looks well and should come home today Monday.  Lent prose went well today and I played Bach O lamm Hottest unschuldig and Lasceux Fugue in G minor.  Played Herzleibster Jesu by Bra...

Set off to church. Henry Francis was born by caesarean at 9 a.m but I did not know until 11.30 as I was playing. We sang Hurford's Litany to the Holy Spirit - we being Linda and I. Nobody else came to practise Holy Week music. After lunch we went to King's College Hospital first for Mass with Clare in the chapel. Colourful vestment and colourful Afrcan priest.  Baby was 8 pounds and lots of black hair. Louise had got there already. Abandoned the idea of norma's recital at Dulwich as Liz took items back to the ward. I enjoyed the final Call the midwife and the painting challenge was really  hard. Monday We both went to Mass. I was late at mosaic and again jokes about being arrested for writing to the PM. I went to Marks to get biscuits to celebrate Henry's arrival but for some reason they got put int he cupboard so I gave the strawberry creams to the tai chi group most f whom did not eat them! 8 there. On buses to the hospital and Mum and baby doing well. Lo...

17 in church. Practising Dorian. Played Willan and Hurford on Song 34, Willan on Nicaea and Mozart Serenade. I told Bill the news. Fr Leon came up to check all was well about getting away at 12. There was a meeting to appoint an auditor at 12 anyway and I go to St Paul's cathedral in good time which was as well as the room was full.  Pádraig O Tuama spoke well at St Paul's cathedral. He is an Irish gay poet and theologian who directs the Corrymeela community and he told some great stories. Good to see Michael Redman there but  William Rhind  was turned away as it was full. Home by 3.30. At evensong we sang Stanford in B flat and Caesar Soul of my saviour. Benediction. End of War and Peace beautifully done. Call the midwife and watched programme on Confucius. Delighted that Liz found the missing hangings in the shed boxes. Brought some organ music home.

:Liz is thurifer and I am mitre. Oddly I did not feel as though I had been to Mass. I hardly heard the readings or homily. Don't know why because Paul shows exactly what to do! Arrived at church to be met by Paul and Hayley. He announced he is leaving. Apparently some people have complained to the patrons whoever they are and he is going. He is fed up with John and we agreed he is impossible. It is confidential at the moment. Carrie confirmed it after service. It's a blow and I might need to consider my position as an interregnum will not funny and the church might close if the money runs out. It is of course very convenient. The flies in the ointment are the tuning of the organ and the treasurer! I gave Paul 2 magazines which he was pleased about "Music and liturgy" and PMM newsletter. I wonder if he will go to Rome? I played Willan on Bishopthorpe and Song 34 and Hurford on Song 34. For a change I played the Intermezzo from Cavaliera rusticana which Andrew like...

Could not swim as pump was broken. To St Matthew's for talk by Helen on the enneagram and we did it. I am a 7 - I've done it before but had forgotten what my previous result was! Good session in the afternoon too and Howard led the prayers well. Home and Liz had been at Catholic Grandparents launch with Bishop Kieran. To St John Notting Hill for opening recital on the restored historic organ by Thomas Trotter. Glass at the side enables children to see the action. We saw a video about how the work was done in Devon. Peter Hurford suite was delightful and the Knightsbridge march. Barbara from the Proms was there and people were friendly. I chatted to a lady from the Heritage Lottery Fund and there were lovely eats from a local restaurant. Long chat to Thomas. Home by 10.

Up for 7 and the boys were up. Seán enjoying an explore. Played Andriessen on Aus der tiefe, Hurford on Caswall and Bach Erbarm dich. Found some vocal scores in the cupboard and an index to the settings and anthems. Put organ music in alphabetical order. We started with "Stand up, stand up for Jesus" but the rest of the hymns were fine. Glory be to Jesus, There's a wideness, I heard the voice of Jesus say and Forty days and forty nights. 28 in congregation and family came to remove the stone dog with the purple bow from the funeral so no chance to discuss with Fr Paul so emailed him. Very nice reply saying I was admirable as always and just right so no need to worry. Waiting for Liz sat in the sun reading the Tablet and listened to Just a minute. Dennis came down and Ciaran playing with Lego and in garden. A glorious day and a lovely lunch of lamb and apple pie and semifreddo. To St John's for concert by St Bart's orchestra Beethoven Coriolan, Suite by clarinetti...

Watched the mass concelebrated by the 17 new cardinals and the Pope from St Peter's. Nice brass and the choirs sang well especially the Westminster boy who sang the psalm beautifully. Liz went from Kent house. I played Webber and Gade on Lobe den herren and Willan and Hurford on Song 24. Practised some Faure. We took the Sebo to John Lewis because it keeps cutting out - turns out we had the wrong bag! Evensong from St Alban's an archive recording directed by Barry Rose. Watched programme on Sicily, Blandings and Call the midwife. An interesting programme on Lutyens and Castle Drogo and the impressive closing ceremony of the Sochi Olympics.

Tuesday to Whitechapel Idea store for Christian/Muslim forum Conversations. Muslims heavily outnumbered so paired with Jackie and we discussed violence and suffering. She taught Muslim students. It was interesting and good that it was held there although the library was not publicising it. To Whitechapel gallery - Kader Attia's take on a library - the light of Jacob's ladder, Elizabeth Price's film At the house of Mr X was intriguing. The Damn braces: Bless relaxes display seemed very muddled. To Somerset House to see Quietus which is underground and consists of funerary urns and coffins. Stanley Spencer's murals from the Sandham chapel are most interesting. Met one of my class there. To Pret and then to Vespers and Mass. The boys sang Jeremy de Satge's Westminster Mass which used the chimes but it didn't really work very well. Hurford's Litany was beautifully sung. I dashed to St Paul's Knightsbridge for free BBC singers live concert of early music con...

Small choir at Coulsdon so we sang L.J.White's Prayer of St Richard of Chichester. When about to rehearse Byrd Kyries discovered 3 sopranos did not have copies! Molly enjoyed the practice. I played Willan on Aberyswyth and Fugal trilogy no. 1 - one fo Dad's favourites. Also Peter Hurford on Caswall and the bass aria from the St Matthew Passion. Vickie Newham forgot about the clocks going forward! All the family except Tom came for lunch. He was exhausted after taking Ciarán to Gullivers world at Milton Keynes! Delicious smoked salmon, turkey and crumble. Ciarán had a great time with this track and garden house. Dave came to take a photo.

Did not sleep well again. Put away short sleeved shirts and sorted out some to give away - I won't need so many now! Haircut and tidying up. Arrived at St Andrew's early and set out cakes for the break, Rather disturbed by man who came in and said he wanted to sit in the church. I said I was sorry but No as I was on my home, He said "What are churches for? " but he left. The recital went well. I played Peeters, Ireland, Howells, Jackson and Armstrong Gibbs and it was appreciated. Norman Harper was complimentary and did not know Howells Sine Nomine prelude. After juice and cakes Martin Ball spoke about King's Cambridge organ and Rodney Williams spoke about being a chorister under Boris Ord. He was amusing and Charles Hazell joined in. Ann was there too - nice to see her again. To Cathedral and got diary at St Paul's. Vespers and Mass - Mill Hill fathers and Challoner choir singing Peter Hurford's In the hour of my distress and an unaccompanied Tantum ergo w...

Friday to hospital and fed Grandma. She ate a 3rd of dinner and all the yoghurt but she is not getting enough liquid. She listened to the news headlines I read her and smiled a lot. Straight to choir practice and I was 15 minutes late. My texts did not reach anyone who was there (only 4 there) so I now have the others' mobile numbers although they do not use their phones! We finished early and I practised the Mahler before giving the ladies a lift home. Dennis arrived later. Liz was at a slapup catechists dinner. Saturday to the cathedral to serve at 9am Mass with Archbishop Vincent and Bishop John. He was great at welcoming everyone and Fr Christopher described me to him as "Mr Interfaith" which we suppose makes Liz "Mrs Interfaith"! To the West London synagogue for a splendid service with organ and choir (organ sometimes too loud but some fine Mendelssohn and Bach). A lovely bar mitzvah with the family fully involved and 2 baby girls blessed. Lunch there. To ...

Book sale ending at library - about £110 which is not a lot. The Indian summer wasn't all that great although the park looks lovely. To Smoke vespers and Mass with Fr Michael Durand. Canon Christopher's attempts to sing "For all the saints" before Mass! Challoner choir murdered Rutter Deep peace although Hurford's Litany to the spirit was better but I don't think either was particularly appropriate. Fr Tim Dean is coming to the Catenian clergy supper on Friday - Canon Christopher and Fr Swavek have both been in Rome. Have been reading about the conservative Anglicans joining Rome - I can't help thinking this will make ecumenism with the C of E even more difficult and many of the hopes of the past seem to be dashed. Listening to All Saints Margaret Street evensong and benediction - can't get much higher than that! Pouring with rain and people on vintage car run to Brighton getting drenched and breaking down. Services went OK - we sang Harris "Holy ...

Friday woke late so no swim again! Work experience student came for interview - he uses our library and put us as first choice! The other young man is apparently not coming after all. Two very unruly teenage girls came in around 4 p.m. and we ended up calling the police. One told me my job was boring - what I should have said was that life is never boring with people like her coming in showing no respect for anyone! On the bus the other day large man sat next to me taking up as much room as possible and then switched his radio on. I said "What makes you think we want to listen to your radio? Please switch it off" which he did remarking that it was ClassicFM. So what I thought! Liz thought I was mad in view of all the knives about these days. I just wanted to read "The Tablet" in peace - I now have 4 to get through and there's a lot to enjoy in them not least items on future Archbishops of Westminster. To Mass at the cathedral and the full choir wer...

While we are considering the Transfiguration, the Anglicans thought about Nicodemus visiting Jesus and being born again. We sang the 3 part Geoffrey Shaw Mass and Hurford's "Litany to the Holy Spirit". "The God of Abram praise" and "Immortal love for ever full". Harry Witham's ashes were interred. Psalm 121 to the Walford Davies chant. I photocopied the Byrd 4 part mass and practised. Just a minute on radio on way home. After lunch Adrian had asked Liz to sing at St John's so plans were changed and I went to the cathedral organ recital and cantored at 6pm Mass with Oliver. All went well. James McVinnie of St Paul's cathedral and shortly Westminster Abbey played Martin Passacaille (such an angry piece), De Grigny and Reger. Liz to Harlow to accompany AnnMarie to Shrewsbury and then Dublin. I did March music list. Watched Lark rise to Candleford.