23 May 2010

Welcome to Hind Street!

That was the liturgical opening of the Sunday Morning service on Radio 4. It was a service to celebrate, first, the 200th anniversary of this Methodist church. Not "In the name of Father Son and Spirit". Not "The Lord be with you", with its subtext of the power of the Spirit. Not even some unliturgical, charismatic and spontaneous proclamation of the Spirit's power.

I think that said all that needs to be said about the ... er ... spirit of post-Christian post-Protestant English folk-religion. And about the difference between Catholicism and such folk-religion.

4 comments:

Warwickensis said...

Before I left, the opening words to every Mass in my Parish were "Mornin' all".

Make of that what you will, Father.

Joshua said...

It is common when at the OF here in Oz to hear: "In the name...", "The Lord be with you..."/"The grace of..." - and then "Good morning/evening", to which versicle the response is "Good morning/evening, Faaather", in a slightly idiotic kindergarten singsong.

If one is really lucky, either then or before the blessing at the end, Father will make some apposite comments about the football results (AFL, not soccer).

Starving in the midst of bounty...

Anonymous said...

Choral Evensong on Radio 3 is now corrupted by this innovation to Office. Last week's offering from Bristol was a notable example - a gushing 'welcome' with turgid précis of the history and the joys of 'community life' and worship in the Augustinian tradition (sic).

I suppose this reading from Pevsner or The A-Z ought to be called the Topography - is there a latin alternative Father?

Sir Watkin said...

Choral Evensong on Radio 3 is now corrupted by this innovation to Office

I'd love to know whether this vexatious innovation is one that the B.B.C. encouraged (or mandates). Or is it just a nasty fashion that has spread among cathedral (and other) clergy, as such pernicious things (alas) so often do?

The irony is that the sort of people who listen to Choral Evensong on the Third Programme, are the least likely either to need or to appreciate such gratuitous persiflage.

It was most pleasing that the recent broadcast of Vespers from the London Oratory was mercifully free of this modish attempt to be "relevant" and "accessible".