Dear Reader
One of the highlights of this tour for me is returning to York. I love the City and I especially love York Minster. It holds a special place in my heart. So there will be Minster Spam to follow these words.
We arrived in York after the long trip from Salisbury, with the stop off for the visit to Chatsworth House. Another group dinner at L’Osteria Italia which was next to Clifford’s Tower. It was also opposite the hotel where we stayed in 2015. It was great to see Ed Joyner who came after dinner to say G’day.
It has finally stopped raining (almost) but my goodness it has been cold. There has been significant flooding across England, including places we have visited, after we have left.
We sang our first servicemen which was a Eucharist in place of Evensong, on the occasion of the Feast of the Epiphany. We sang the Hunt St Peter’s Mass and four hymns, but sadly our programmed motet was cut when the Celebrant thought we had finished after the Agnus Dei. The hymns were Brightest and Best of the Sons of the Morning, We Three Kings, As with Gladness Men of Old and one other which I will add later.
This morning we begin the big commitment of a full Sunday. This will include Matins, Eucharist and Evensong. More on that later.
Bella, Nicholas, Michael and I took the cases over to the Minster via taxi, as I was concerned that the 20 minute walk across cobblestones and uneven pathways would be a risk to the wheels of the cases. We had one epic fail on the last tour, and replacing cases costs more than the taxis for sure. This left us with some time outside the Minster before it opened, where we could take in the majesty of the West Door and the newly installed statue of Queen Elizabeth II celebrating her Diamond Jubilee. I was rather taken by the image of the lonely cases waiting for the rest of our crew to arrive.
The Feast of the Epiphany was Henry Sawers’ 18th Birthday, so after a rousing Happy Birthday at breakfast it was off to the Minster where he had a chat with the Minster Police, in the form of Constable Paddy Campbell. The Minster has its own police force who are present 24/7.
I was amazed to see the Fluorescent Pink Christmas Tree still adorning the Bairstow Piano in the Schola Cantorum. It was definitely there in 2015 and I am pretty sure it was also there when we visited in 2007. Surely it must be heritage listed.
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| There is a new Chorister Elf |
I will now drop photos in of our day, and come back later for commentary as I have to get up and ready for our big day.
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| A detail of the desks in the Schola Cantorum |
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| In the Schola Cantorum |
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| Chapter House roof, which is an engineering marvel, as it has no centre support |
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| King William’s tomb |
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| The list is longer than last time I took this photo. Challenge was the Christmas tree in front this time, see above |
Some photos of walking around York.
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| I have always loved this lane. Dedicated to all my friends named Alice |
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| This photo comes from the first tour in 2006-07, and features Rilke D-J now Mellor, Frances Nettle, Katherine Morgan, Nareen N now Premanand and Luci Badge, with Alice Gent |
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| Wren who gave us a sample of her excellent Elderflower glittery gin |
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| With Claire who sold me a cute Labrador stamp handmade by her father |
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| A fun street performer |
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| A specialist shop for mothers of the bride |
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| Finally… SQUIRREL |
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| Another Bug Cathedral |
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| Random cat in a window |
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| Petergate |
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| While some of his family are not fans, we love Nick’s new cap. It is great to have Nick and Canon Jenny with us |
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| We were blessed to have Alana Brook and Joe Priestly with us. Joe is responsible for the excellent livestreams and the choice of Vietnamese restaurant |
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| Photo credit: the restaurateur |
It's excellent to see the Cathedral beanies in a few photos. When we were in York we loved Betty's Tea Shop - not far from the cathedral. Very atmospheric and ambient.
ReplyDeleteSome interesting liturgical things in the Epiphany Eucharist — No wonder they forgot the motet when they have the Agnus at the end of Communion. It was lovely to see and hear you all in the Minster — what a reverberation time! And you will all be home again before long! Every blessing for London and Oxford. Have all the sermons been as good as that one? I loved the "wise ones from the east" reference in the welcome at the beginning!
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