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| 2594: St Nicholas,
Warwick, England |
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Photo:
© Elliot Brown and used under license
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Mystery
Worshipper: Dissenter 1662.
The church:
St
Nicholas, Warwick, England.
Denomination:
Church
of England, Diocese
of Coventry.
he building:
Dating from 1785, it is a fine example of Gothic Revival minus
the excesses that were later to characterise that style. The
tower contains a clock as well as a ring of eight bells, recast
and rehung in 1957. With only four free-standing pillars, the
interior is especially light and airy, wider than it is deep.
Interestingly, there is no pulpit.
The church:
They are part of the Warwick Team Ministry and members of Churches
Together in Warwick. They host film nights, afternoon teas,
recitals and concerts, and other social events. They also have
a Sunday Club, where (quoting from their website) "the
children join the main 10am service for the first five minutes
and then leave to join in activities together before returning
in time for a blessing at communion."
The neighbourhood:
Warwick is a town on the River Avon just south of Coventry.
The church is situated close to the entrance to Warwick Castle
(founded by William the Conqueror in 1068) and is separated
from the castle by a well-flowered roundabout. The present church
is still regarded historically as the castle’s church;
hence the Earl of Warwick is a patron.
The cast:
The Revd Linda Duckers, team vicar, was the celebrant. The Revd
Kevin Barnard, curate, preached.
The date & time:
8 September 2013, 10.00am.
What was the name of the service?
Holy Communion and Sunday Club.
How full was the building?
About one-third to one-half full.
Did anyone welcome you personally?
Door stewards greeted us warmly and gave us hymn books. At the
exchange of peace, there were people swarming everywhere. My
hand was shaken at least eight times. A good welcome.
Was your pew comfortable?
Comfortable chairs.
How would you describe the pre-service
atmosphere?
Fairly quiet, some subdued chat.
What were the exact opening words of the
service?
"Welcome to any visitors," spoken with warmth by the
celebrant.
What books did the congregation use during the
service?
A newsletter and service sheet with readings and post-communion
prayer; locally produced Common Worship communion booklet;
Hymns Old and New.
What musical instruments were played?
Organ and piano. The organ was driven to the limit by the organist,
who played painfully loud for each verse of every hymn. Good
speed but no sensitivity for context. The anthems during communion
were much more sensitively accompanied on piano. Thomas Tallis'
If ye love me was sung a cappella, sensitively
if a little ragged around the edges.
Did anything distract you?
No distractions apart from organ volume.
Was the worship stiff-upper-lip,
happy clappy, or what?
Very middle-of-road. Traditional processional with crucifer
and choir plus altar party up the side, round the back and down
the centre aisle. They left same way.
Exactly how long was the
sermon?
19 minutes.
On a scale of 1-10, how
good was the preacher?
5 – The Revd Kevin Barnard preached from an A5 black ring
binder prominently labelled "Sermon". He read in a fairly lively
fashion, with some asides.
In a nutshell, what was
the sermon about?
The cost of commitment.
Which part of the service was like being in
heaven?
Nothing unorthodox here. Everything seemed firmly grounded.
And which part was like being in... er... the other place?
The organ playing.
What happened when you hung around after the service looking lost?
Everyone picked up quite quickly. There was quite a bit of enjoyable
generally "churchy" chat.
How would you describe
the after-service coffee?
Coffee in a mug plus a biscuit. Very acceptable. Several people
chatted with me, and one even put money in for my coffee!
How would you feel about
making this church your regular (where 10 = ecstatic, 0 = terminal)?
3 – I'll be back to enjoy the friendliness of the place,
but I'll remember to bring ear defenders to protect against
the organ volume.
Did the service make you feel glad to be a
Christian?
Yes, and I felt confirmed in my faith as well.
What one thing will you remember about all this in seven days' time?
The pain in my ears. |
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