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| 2551: Trinity
Church, Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada |
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Photo:
DDD (Public Domain)
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Mystery
Worshipper: Ronnie.
The church:
Trinity
Church, Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada.
Denomination:
Anglican
Church of Canada.
The building:
The present building dates from 1879 and is in the late Early
English Gothic style. It replaces an earlier church destroyed
by fire in 1877. The steeple rises to the majestic height of
210 feet and is topped by a weathervane in the form of a fish,
the early symbol for Christianity. The tower contains a clock
and a ring of nine bells. The interior features beautiful stained
glass, including an east window by the noted Victorian artisan
Charles Eamer Kempe. The elaborately carved reredos is also
by Kempe. A more detailed description of the interior can be
found on their website.
The church:
Their many ministries are also listed on their website. Today's
service gave an atypical view of the life of the church, as
there were many different congregations represented.
The neighbourhood:
Most of Saint John was ravaged by the disastrous fire of 1877,
but the many grand Victorian structures that sprang up in
its wake are all well preserved and offer a nostalgic view
of city life in days gone by.
The cast:
The Revd Dr. Ranall Ingalls, rector; the Revd Douglas MacNeil,
rector of the Roman Catholic Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception;
the Revd Dr. John Crawford, minister of Grace Presbyterian
Church.
The date & time:
Sunday, June 2, 2013, 4.30pm.
What was the name of
the service?
Festal Evensong (Coronation Evensong, marking the 60th anniversary
of the coronation of Her Majesty the Queen).
How full was the building?
Two-thirds full.
Did anyone welcome you
personally?
Yes. A woman with a delightful smile and handshake greeted
me and handed me an order of service. She did not question
me at all, as there were many of us entering at once.
Was your pew comfortable?
It was a little hard to sit on for 90 minutes, but I expect
it would have been all right for 60.
How would you describe
the pre-service atmosphere?
While not silent, it was reverential. Some were praying, some
chatting. Those talking with their neighbours were doing so
in low voices.
What were the exact
opening words of the service?
"O let the nations rejoice and be glad; for thou shalt
judge the folk righteously, and govern the nations upon earth."
(Psalm 67:4)
What books did the congregation
use during the service?
Only the printed order of service that was handed to me.
What musical instruments
were played?
Organ, trumpet, flugel horn, trombone, tuba. The organ is
an Allen digital instrument that replaced an older Casavant
Frères instrument, the pipes of which are still in
place.
Did anything distract
you?
Plenty of flashy clothing, including some "fascinators" –
no one wears such things to church where I come from! People
were dressed as they would be to attend an opera, the ballet
or a play. It was interesting to note, yet another regional
difference.
Was the worship stiff-upper-lip,
happy clappy, or what?
Definitely stiff-upper lip. As they were dressed to the nines,
what other opinion could one possibly hold? The service followed
the order of evensong that took place at the Queen's coronation.
Of course, this in itself was enough to stiffen the most pliant
upper lip.
Exactly how long was
the sermon?
No sermon.
Which part of the service
was like being in heaven?
The 50 voice choir was great, and the wonderful music was all
very spiritually up-lifting. i.e., Handel, Charles Villiers
Stanford, Vaughan Williams. The conductor was fabulous.
And which part was like
being in... er... the other place?
Sitting on that brutally hard pew for roughly 30 minutes longer
than what I would personally prescribe.
What happened when you
hung around after the service looking lost?
A kind woman introduced herself and asked if this was my home
church. A very pleasant conversation followed in which she
told me a little bit about Trinity, which was her home church.
How would you describe
the after-service coffee?
Crowded to the point where I chose not to enter the room.
How would you feel about
making this church your regular (where 10 = ecstatic, 0 =
terminal)?
9 – While not the type of service I am accustomed to,
the music was fabulous! I felt very welcome, so yes, I would
consider making this my home church if I lived in this city.
Did the service make
you feel glad to be a Christian?
Yes, it did. It gave me cause to reflect on the life of service
the Queen has lived and her love of God.
What one thing will
you remember about all this in seven days' time?
The wonderful music, the warmth with which I was greeted –
and the "fascinators."
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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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