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The Quirky Things

We are now successfully loaded onto the Eurostar and Wee Alice and I have debunked to another cabin as ours appeared full. She seems happier here. 

 Chrissie: Is that right Alice? 
Alice: YES

 I thought I would take the opportunity to tell you about some of the quirks we have found in England.

  • Lincoln Cathedral has a role for the Eucharist called the Choir Nanny. This can be a man or a woman, and is someone dressed as a server who brings the choir into church and takes it to communion. ys
  • Choirs in Oxford Cathedral, in the bastion of academia, do not wear academic hoods to Evensong
  • Westminster Abbey does not allow photography, neither does Durham. Gloucester does, but at a cost of three pounds.However, Gloucester has a recommended donation (5 pounds) while Westminster has a compulsory charge of 18 pounds. Unless you are singing the service, or attending one. 
  • Herbert Howells was not a tall man. He was 5'2", always immaculately dressed, with sharpened pencils lined up on the piano. When asked why he wrote the Gloucester Service in minims instead of crotchets he said "Minims are more holy". 
  • There are increasing numbers of girls singing in Cathedrals these days. None of them seem to have our strict hair code. I don't think we plan to change our hair code after seeing theirs in action.
I hope to recall a few more quirks in coming days to amuse you. 

Cxxx

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