In many ways Holy Week and Easter have been different this year. Father Martin and I and some of the congregation of St. Augustine’s went to the Chrism Mass at Chelmsford Cathedral on Monday. This was well-supported both by clergy and laity and the congregation practically filled the Cathedral. But there was something different – something missing. Many familiar faces were not there as they have left the Church of England, moved to the Ordinariate and, during this week, into full membership of the Catholic Church. The Blogs have been full with reports of the various groups being received into full membership.
I played the organ at St. Augustine for the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Thursday and for the Solemn Liturgy on Good Friday.
Then on Saturday evening I was Celebrant & Preacher at the Easter Vigil at St. Barnabas, Woodford Green which was a well-attended service. The choir of St. Barnabas under the direction of Ray Chandler really excelled themselves. The servers play a vital role in the Easter Vigil and the St. Barnabas servers were really good; I believe they had all been to church for a rehearsal. It was a real pleasure to be the Celebrant at that service.
Then, just a few hours later, it was time to go to St. Augustine’s to play the organ for their Easter Vigil which is held at 5.30 a.m. As compensation for having to be up and alert so early in the morning on Easter Day a super breakfast follows with cereals, fruit juice, eggs, sausages, toast and marmalade, tea and coffee which really set us up for the next service: the Solemn Mass of the Day. The church was pretty well full and a wonderful and joyful service it was too. I concluded it by playing Widor’s Toccata. Then after a super lunch cooked by our daughter and son-in-law and a bit of a nap, and an Easter Egg Hunt with our granddaughter, it was back to St. Augustine for Solemn Evensong & Benediction.
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