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The church: St Alban's, Copenhagen.
Denomination: Anglican.
The building: Traditional Anglican building with spire and stained glass.
The neighbourhood: The church is a few minutes from the Little Mermaid statue and is surrounded by a beautiful park and lakes. All rather snowy when I visited in February.
The cast: Fr. Tom Mendel.
Sung Eucharist.
How full was the building?
The church was about quarter full – maybe 60 people.
Did anyone welcome you personally?
I was handed books at the door and found my own seat.
Was your pew comfortable?
A cushioned pew, which was perfectly adequate and comfortable.
How would you describe the pre-service atmosphere?
As people arrived, they waved at their friends or spoke quietly. Overall there was a good sense of stillness.
What were the exact opening words of the service?
'Good morning and a very warm welcome to our service of Holy Communion, and a special welcome to any newcomers visiting us today.'
What books did the congregation use during the service?
The church had its own reprints of the ASB Rite A, and also used Hymns Ancient & Modern. The Bible readings were on the service sheet.
What musical instruments were played?
There was a lovely peal of bells before the service, and an organ and robed choir led the music.
Did anything distract you?
No.
Was the worship stiff-upper-lip, happy clappy, or what?
It was as relaxed as traditional hymns can get, and included a chanted psalm.
Exactly how long was the sermon?
11 minutes.
On a scale of 1-10, how good was the preacher?
I'd give Fr. Mendel about a 7. It was a clear sermon, but it was hard to write sermon notes or find an overall point in what he was saying.
In a nutshell, what was the sermon about?
The Transfiguration – how the mountain and Jesus' appearance refer back to Moses and forward to Gethsemane and Golgotha.
Which part of the service was like being in heaven?
All the hymns and the sermon were securely grounded on God's Word.
And which part was like being in... er... the other place?
Nothing.
What happened when you hung around after the service looking lost?
The church messed this up badly. I went downstairs for coffee with everyone else and spent 15 long minutes waiting to see if anyone would talk to me. They didn't. Maybe I just looked fascinated by my cup of tea.
How would you describe the after-service coffee?
Tea, hot, in a plastic cup.
How would you feel about making this church your regular (where 10 = ecstatic, 0 = terminal)?
4. Even if I lived in Copenhagen, I think it would be just a little too dry for me.
Did the service make you feel glad to be a Christian?
Yes, because I found a service I could understand and worship in despite being a tourist in a cold and distant land.
What one thing will you remember about all this in seven days' time?
Chanting a psalm, which I hadn't done for 13 years and enjoyed as much as ever.
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