The organist librarian

A quiet morning at home - played piano for a bit. Got to Bloomsbury Baptist for 1 only to find Philip Norman doing an illustrated talk on British organ building of the last 1000 years - didn't learn much. The organ students were down to play later. I got to London interfaith centre at Queens Park in good time and met a Catholic, Alan Rainer and Fr David Standley. Dr King spoke on ecology and faith and was excellent. Could have led to a really good discussion but I grabbed a tea and got to vespers. Liz went to Charlie Merritt's retirement mass at Northfields. Eugene was thurifer and he and the boys were a bit dopey. Visiting priest went up to the altar at the offertory so I had to politely ask him stand to one side so the censing could happen! Arthur Wills piece at the end from Ben. Simon Augustus cried off our pub drink so home to learn Seán had gone to hospital with Louise and Dennis so she missed her girls night out. Ciaran went to Ann Marie's and they are all now in bed...

We sang Oldroyd's Mass of the Quiet hour and Stanford's "O for a closer walk with God" and both went well. As it was Ann and Tony King's 40th wedding anniversary they chose the hymns and we enjoyed wine after the service. I practised and prepared for Teresa's First mass on Sept 29th. Decided to play the Dorian Fugue. To All Saints Carshalton with its magnificent Willis organ. Interesting that so many of the churches I visited this weekend are High Church ones. To the Honeywood heritage centre which is a fascinating Victorian house with lots of interesting items and displays. Then a walk in the sun round the Sutton Ecology centre and a visit to the 18th century Water Tower which has a lovely plunge bath with Delft tiles. We were given a tour round the grounds of St Philhomena's school formerly Carshalton House. Had tea with John Hawes. Final visit to 72 Carshalton Grove which demonstrates the use of insulation and recycling to cut a house's carbon footp...