February 3, 2008
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Candlemas
Saturday, we decided to go to Evensong at King’s College Chapel . I posted some pictures of this chapel which was built in 1441 a few entries ago. It was Candlemas, which is the day Jesus was supposedly presented in the temple 40 days after his birth. It marks the end of the Christmas season. Evensong is the night-time service of the Anglican Church. It is liturgical and it is sung–in Latin, I discovered.
We went into the cathedral, which was lit only by candles and by recessed lighting which illuminated the faces of carved angels 20 feet above us. Gorgeous! We had excellent seats right next to the choir where the yellow arrow is pointing. [Note: I didn't take these pictures that night. These are obviously day time shots.]
All was dark and quiet, except for the organ music.
Then, the organ stopped and everyone rose to his feet. From behind the choir screen, rich, male voices began to sing. They were joined by the pure, high notes of a boys’ choir. It really was just like a soundtrack from a movie. You know the scenes where there is something really dramatic going on, like someone packing up to leave or dying in the rain or something and there is a haunting a cappella choir singing in the background? It was like that, but in person. And no one was dying.Next, the procession of the priests (are they priests in the Anglican church?) and the choir occurred. The priests were in dark blue robes, and the choir was in red and white. Not being familiar with a liturgical service, it took us a while to catch on to the fact that all the standing, sitting, and kneeling were clearly explained in the booklet left on the seat. It also contained all the prayers and the things the choir sang with the English translations of the Latin.
I really enjoyed the pageantry and majesty of the service, but I was grateful that I go to a church that teaches the Bible and explains passages. It really brought home to me why the Protestant Reformation happened. It would be hard to grow as a Christian if one didn’t understand what was being said at church.
Conversation after the hour-long service–
Teacherperson: Did you enjoy it?
Hunter: Yes, but most of it was in Latin, so I didn’t understand much.
Teacherperson: All the translations were in that book. You could have read it and practiced your Latin.
Hunter: Yeah, but I wanted to soak it all in like a sponge.
Wit: (popping in his iPod) I must be a very small sponge. I could only soak it in for about 30 seconds.I do not see a career in the Anglican Church in Wit’s future.
Comments (29)
Mary,
Are you enjoying England? Do you miss the USA yet?
RYC: New frogs. They’re adorable
God bless you.
Cynthia
That must have been really beautiful! RYC-Thank YOU for coming to my site! I am always happy to see you have come by!
Wow- that must have been very moving– I would have loved it! Have you heard anything yet about the Cambridge Singers???
I loved Wit’s comment! Too funny!
My oldest recently attended a Latin mass with my parents, she enjoyed the experience but stated she would not want to do it again, mostly because she likes to participate, and the Latin mass was not that type of mass….lol.
ryc: I’m with you – I regret some of my choices, but I’m happy with my life, so I wouldn’t change anything either!
Glad that nobody was dying during the singing!
RYC: Jersey Junior did alright at the dentist…turns out that he grinds his teeth, and is wearing down some of the baby ones. Fortunately, they don’t see the need to do anything about it. Praise God!
The Reformation all makes sense now. What a useless building too! One couldn’t possibly play basketball in that non-energy efficient structure. No wonder they couldn’t keep kids interested in church. Just one thing confuses me. Isn’t the Anglican Church protestant? I think they wanted to be able to have homosexual female bishops or something like that. Oh well, keep posting the GREAT pictures.
)
What a wonderful experience! When I was a little girl, attending the Catholic Church, mass was in Latin. I remember how happy everyone was when it changed.
I am so very much enjoying your posts, Mary!
A small sponge. That is precious. I almost could hear the music while reading your post….almost…Maybe I need to make a trip to England.
It sounds beautiful… but long. I think I would get fidgety.
Glad you liked the story.
RYC: Nope. According to standing policy, I shall not be posting on Xanga ever again.
Isn’t that how it is with teenagers, they have this great opportunity to seap in deep, rich culture and they could care less.
Hopefully, he’ll look back on this time and think wow, how cool!
Love the after-service conversation.
I do indeed hope you get to feeling better….. and that excursion sounds marvelous!
Thanks for the comments from the other day. It always makes me smile to see you hanging around xangaland. Obviously, since it’s how I met you…. anyway…. it isn’t the same without you, but I am excited for you whenever I think about the fact that you are IN ENGLAND! I hope that things have settled into more of a routine for you and the rest of the family.
Anyway: much love to you! I’ll send you an email soon, just for fun.
So I would have been safe to leave my Christmas decorations up longer! Shucks! lol Oh, yeah– I’m glad no one had died, so you could enjoy the beautiful a cappella singing & not be in suspense…
I’m also here to tempt you to read my newest post on those stories you asked about.
What a wonderful time and what amazing experiences you’re having in England! I remember going to Christmas Eve mass in a Catholic church when I was a gorl. I didn’t understand a thing, but it sure was beautiful. Thank goodness for the Reformation! I’de take understanding over beauty any day!
Thanks for sharing such history an beauty with us!
I guess I forgeot to mention the obvious-the Christma Eve mass I went to when I was a gorl was in Latin.
Sounds like a cool experience, but I have to agree with you that I’m thankful to be in a church where I understand what’s being said.
That sounds like a beautiful service . . . one that would be meaningful to attend on occasion, for the beautiful, majestic experience. But I agree with you . . . I need to attend a church that teaches the Bible straight forward and what it has to do with my daily life . . . or I’m just too simple to get it.
Wit is too funny! I agree with him. After growing up in the Catholic church, I have little tolerance for tradition and services in dead languages. Why is it more spiritual in Latin? I don’t get it.
It sounds like a beautiful service. I have to admit though, that I smiled and even chuckled at Wit’s comment
Yeah, I passed! Hurrah! Umm, the contractor said we could move in any time, but I think it’ll be closer to the end of the month.
Merry
Oh, yes, our diet is going well, I suppose. I might have lost weight; I’m not sure (we don’t have a scale). I couldn’t say I feel healthier, but I definitely feel good in the fact that I’m trying.
RYC: Yes, I know the possibility of him actually winning is not very likely. But still… I try to remain hopeful because otherwise, the options are depressing. McCain is dreadful and will ruin the Republican party – he is as bad as Obama and Hillary.
Romans 13:1-5
Wit! Funny! That place you pointed to is seats? It looks like a jury box, sort of. It sounds beautiful. I would love to attend a service like that.
I would love to go for a walk with you! I still remember the nice one we had when we visited.
Hope you all feel better soon.
yeah, apperently not everyone’s hair will do Blue…so it didn’t take. so now my tips are bleached. On Friday I’m gonna go back to CPI and have C do probably pink…..
The band is the church band. perpetualmusicguy is the bassist, one of our youth leaders plays the acoustic guitar, and this other dude who I take karate with is our drummer.
We are high church, in our hearts, but go to a pretty casual service (candles still there but often collars instead of robes, but a praise band and the contemporary Our Father and creed). So we really look forward to this time of year when they make it more foraml at all services and say the more formal liturgy and put on the robes the whole time.
Dear all,
Beautiful pictures of Kings College Chapel! You have done a great job in your blog of capturing the ambience and feel of being there. Latin~oh my.
Lisa
love your pictures Mary