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The church: Chester Cathedral, England.
Denomination: Church of England.
The building: This is a medieval abbey church complete with cloisters which are tranquil and pleasing. The Victorians have obviously done their bit, too, and there is a very recent and free-standing bell tower.
The neighbourhood: On one side of the cathedral are the old city walls and on the other side is the city square. It's all very quaint, with cobbled streets and half-timbered buildings – and even MacDonalds have been forced to be discreet, so much so, I didn't notice them the first time...
The cast: The ministers were the Dean (Stephen Verney) and the Precentor (Owen Conway). Most of the worship was led, in effect, by the visiting choir, which this week was Keble College Oxford chapel choir.
Evensong (weekday).
How full was the building?
The quire (the interior middle of the building) was occupied by five ordinary congregants, two ministers and 11 choristers. All in all, this meant it was fairly empty, although in the nave there were a further 20-30 observers.
Did anyone welcome you personally?
The verger helped us to find our places and made sure we knew where everything was – he was very helpful and friendly, even though he had his work cut out trying to sort out a party of tourists.
Was your pew comfortable?
We were in a choir stall, which meant we practically disappeared from view when seated – very private!
How would you describe the pre-service atmosphere?
The atmosphere was hushed, reverential. The surroundings are aweing, perhaps even a bit nerve-wracking: 'are we sitting in the right place?' or, 'will we do something wrong?'
What were the exact opening words of the service?
'Good evening. On behalf of the chapter of Chester Cathedral, I welcome you to our service... please take our greetings back to your own congregations.'
What books did the congregation use during the service?
A buff home-produced booklet with the words and rubrics for a traditional evensong, a Book of Common Prayer (for the Psalms), NRSV Bibles, English Hymnal and an Anthem book.
What musical instruments were played?
Apart from the human voice, the organ was the sole instrument.
Did anything distract you?
The architecture (which had the power to pull one's attention) and the conductor's hairstyle (which was flamboyant)...
Was the worship stiff-upper-lip, happy clappy, or what?
It was a formal service with very little human contact. Most of the service was sung by the choir, leaving only a couple of hymns, the creed and a few prayer responses (those not sung by the choir) to the rest of us.
Exactly how long was the sermon?
There was no sermon or any equivalent.
Which part of the service was like being in heaven?
The singing was genuinely lovely and gave space to reflect on the words. The change of chant twice during Psalm 55 and the use of minor-key chants really helped me to reflect on the psalm.
And which part was like being in... er... the other place?
The downside was embarrassment at forgetting that one was supposed to face east for the creed – did I see one of the choir shoot me a disapproving glance when I decided that it would be more embarrassing to correct my mistake than to stay as I was?
What happened when you hung around after the service looking lost?
There was no one around at the end of the service. The vergers were away tidying things up. Everyone else scarpered except the Dean, and he was already 'taken' by another couple.
How would you describe the after-service coffee?
This wasn't the sort of occasion where 'after church coffee' would be appropriate!
How would you feel about making this church your regular (where 10 = ecstatic, 0 = terminal)?
3. I don't think I would put in a regular appearance at such a service if I was able to. I would prefer to attend a said office with more participation.
Did the service make you feel glad to be a Christian?
Yes. It reminded me that we have inherited hundreds of years of Christian worship – that we are the latest link in a chain of prayer and praise – and I was glad of that reminder.
What one thing will you remember about all this in seven days' time?
The overall atmosphere of history and worship going on whether I was there or not.
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