 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
The church: The Cathedral Church of Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary, Durham, England.
Denomination: Church of England.
The building: The cathedral was built in the late 11th century and was completed in 40 years. It rises out of the surrounding city like a massive fortress. It is solid, stately, awe-inspiring. The nave is full of differently patterned pillars of enormous girth. It was used for the set of the film
The neighbourhood: The cathedral is on the edge of a cliff overlloking a bend in the river. It is surrounded by the close, with the university library and other university buildings around it. The castle is at the other end of the close.
The cast: Eucharist celebrant: The Most Rev. Dr Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Wales.
Midday mass during the conference for affirming Catholicism.
How full was the building?
A sea of faces from pillar to pillar up to the back of the cathedral.
Did anyone welcome you personally?
Yes, one of our group was giving out booklets for the service.
Was your pew comfortable?
A basic moveable pew. It was better than in many churches, though I have a back problem so I was a bit uncomfortable.
How would you describe the pre-service atmosphere?
Expectant. Many of the congregation were awe-struck by the magnificence of the building and I saw lots of people looking around in amazement.
What were the exact opening words of the service?
"In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit..."
What books did the congregation use during the service?
A specially printed booklet for this particular mass.
What musical instruments were played?
Organ.
Did anything distract you?
Only the sheer size of the cathedral. It really brought home to me how small we are before God – and yet how loved.
Was the worship stiff-upper-lip, happy clappy, or what?
It was a dignified modern Anglo-Catholic mass, with incense, etc. A good mixture of traditional and modern hymns.
Exactly how long was the sermon?
15 minutes.
On a scale of 1-10, how good was the preacher?
10 – She explained her subject fluently and intellectually, but also in a way that everyone could understand.
In a nutshell, what was the sermon about?
The contribution of Anglicanism to Catholic Christianity, using, in part, Cyprian (it was his day) as a role model. The sacraments are God's gifts to us.
Which part of the service was like being in heaven?
All of it.
And which part was like being in... er... the other place?
None.
What happened when you hung around after the service looking lost?
I didn't, because we had to get back to our college for lunch.
How would you describe the after-service coffee?
There was none.
How would you feel about making this church your regular (where 10 = ecstatic, 0 = terminal)?
10 – if I lived in Durham.
Did the service make you feel glad to be a Christian?
Very glad indeed.
What one thing will you remember about all this in seven days' time?
The vastness of the building and the feeling of being in the womb of God.
| The Mystery Worshipper is sponsored by surefish.co.uk, the internet service provider from Christian Aid. By offering email services, special offers with companies such as amazon.co.uk and smile.co.uk, surefish raises more than £300,000 a year for Christian Aid's work around the world. Click here to find out how to become a Mystery Worshipper. And click here if you would like to reproduce this report in your church magazine or website. Top | Other Reports | Become a Mystery Worshipper! © Ship of Fools 2000 |
|
 |