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| 1896: St Mary's,
Stamford, Lincolnshire, England |
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Mystery Worshipper:
Diapason.
The church:
St
Mary's, Stamford, Lincolnshire, England.
Denomination:
Church of England, Diocese
of Lincoln.
The building:
The oldest surviving parts of St Mary's date from early in the
13th century. The tower, built circa 1220, is in the early English
style, and rises high above the town. North of the chancel is
the Corpus Christi chapel, where weekday masses are offered
and the Blessed Sacrament reserved. There is also a fine rood
screen.
The church:
High Anglo-Catholic; they describe themselves as the Anglo-Catholic
centre of worship in South Lincolnshire. High mass and evensong
take place each Sunday, and there are three low masses during
the week. They sponsor a number of social events such as lunches,
suppers, garden parties and concerts, including concerts of
sacred music in their liturgical settings.
The neighbourhood:
The town of Stamford lies about 100 miles north of London. Many
of the buildings are constructed from old Lincolnshire limestone,
giving the town a unique appearance popular with tourists and
movie directors alike. Of special note are Burghley House, regarded
by many as the finest Elizabethan house in England; Brownes
Hospital, a 15th century almshouse featuring well preserved
stained glass and furniture from medieval times; and the George
Hotel, a coach house that may date as far back as the 10th century.
The cast:
The Venerable Brian Lucas, retired (licensed/PTO), was the celebrant
and preacher. The Revd Michael Ruff, rector, served as deacon.
I tried but could not find out the subdeacon's name.
The date & time:
Sunday, 24 January 2010, 11.00am.
What was the name of the service?
High Mass.
How full was the building?
Full – about 80 to 90 people, but only two or three young families.
Did anyone welcome you personally?
Yes. A man at the door shook my hand and gave me the books needed.
There were lots of handshakes at the peace, but during the remainder
of the service there were plenty of scowls!
Was your pew comfortable?
Yes. Wood seat with red carpet.
How would you describe the pre-service
atmosphere?
Quiet. The clergy, vested in cassocks, went about their preparations
for mass while people walked around, lit candles, and prayed
at the statue of Our Lady.
What were the exact opening words of the
service?
"In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the
Holy Ghost." The clergy processed in as we sang "Brightest
and Best of the Sons of the Morning," which had not been
announced.
What books did the congregation use during the
service?
The New English Hymnal, plus a specially prepared high
mass sheet and notice sheet.
What musical instruments were played?
Organ, and a choir of four men.
Did anything distract you?
A lady sitting behind me kept grunting every so often. I couldn't
figure out if she was dissatisfied with the proceedings or if
there was something wrong with her! Also, among the few families
that were there was one whose two young sons kept themselves
amused with toys – much to the Venerable Lucas' displeasure,
as will be seen.
Was the worship stiff-upper-lip, happy clappy, or
what?
Just about as high church and Catholic as Anglo-Catholic can
get. They even prayed for the Pope!
Exactly how long was the sermon?
12 minutes.
On a scale of 1-10, how good was the preacher?
7 – The Venerable Lucas spoke with a loud, bellowing voice.
He kept looking rather sternly at the two youngsters with the
toys.
In a nutshell, what was
the sermon about?
He spoke on the day's gospel lesson, Luke 4:14-21 (Jesus reads
in synagogue a passage from Isaiah that he announces has been
fulfilled in the hearing of those present). Although we may
not think it, we are also oppressed, and slaves to others, just
as were those to whom Jesus read from scripture. He will set
us free as he came to free his listeners.
Which part of the service
was like being in heaven?
The day outside was pouring with rain, and it was good to be
safe and snug in such a beautiful place, surrounded by clouds
of incense and gorgeous vestments and with the organ sounding
in beautiful flute-like tones.
And which part was like being in... er... the other place?
The disgruntled (or afflicted) lady in the pew behind me. I
also thought the sermon was a bit long.
What happened when you hung around after the service looking lost?
Lots of people came up to me, said hello, and invited me for
coffee.
How would you describe the after-service
coffee?
Good coffee served in china cups.
How would you feel about making this church your regular (where 10 = ecstatic, 0 = terminal)?
8 – A great, rich liturgy and a wonderful worship experience.
Did the service make you feel glad to be a
Christian?
Yes, but this is not a church for the evangelicals!
What one thing will you remember about all this in seven days' time?
The clouds of incense. I could barely see my way whilst returning
to my pew after communion. |
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| The Mystery Pilgrim |
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| One of our most seasoned reporters makes the Camino pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. Read here. |
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| London churches |
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| Read reports from 70 London churches, visited by a small army of Mystery Worshippers on one single Sunday. Read here. |
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