We were spoilt for choice of Services this morning. We opted for
11:00am Sung Eucharist at Southwark Cathedral. We
arrived in plenty of time and sat in the second row. About 10
minutes before the service started, we were invited to take the
bread and wine to the altar during the Offertory. We were very happy
to oblige. We were very impressed by the friendliness of all the
people with whom we came into contact and were made to feel very
welcome.
The Choir sang Missa Brevis by Philip Moore (b.1943) and "Surely
Thou Hast Tasted that the Lord is Good" by Bernard Rose (1916-1996).
The organist played "Prelude, Fugue and Variation" by Cesar Franck
(1822-1890) before the Service and the voluntary at the end was
Toccata by Joseph Jongen (1873-1953). The music was all of an
excellent standard and we both enjoyed our time at the cathedral
very much. You can watch the whole Service on Youtube here. Our starring moment is at the 48
minute mark. I'm not sure how long the video will be "up".
Satoshi spotted the Cathedral cat "Hodge"
almost as soon as we entered the building!
Looking from the west end
Looking east from the Nave Altar
The Harvard Chapel: John Harvard, who later endowed the
prestigious Harvard University in Massachusetts, was born in
Southwark in 1607 to Robert and Katherine Harvard. He was
baptised in St Saviour's Church (now Southwark Cathedral) on
29 November 1607 and his father's signature is in the
Cathedral register. The communion table with its fine twisted
barley-sugar legs was given by Joyce, Lady Clerke in 1623. It
was at one time the High Altar within the church.
The stained-glass window depicts the baptism of Christ and the
coats of arms of Emmanuel College, Cambridge and Harvard
University. The window was designed by John Le Farge, a
colleague of acclaimed designer Louis Tiffany in 1905 and is
thought to be the only example of his work in England.
Detail of above
The Augustus Pugin Tabernacle was produced for the 1851 Great
Exhibition. This houses the reserved sacrament of bread and
wine to be taken by the sick and dying.
Detail of above
The High Altar and carved screen. The original was installed
in 1520 but most of the detail is from later periods.
A Ceiling Boss depicting Satan Swallowing Judas Iscariot
The Good Samaritan
The Nonsuch Chest was given to the church in 1588. Parish
records used to be kept here.
Detail of above
"O that I had wings like a dove" (Psalm 55:6)
The organ was built in 1897 by T.C. Lewis & Co. of Brixton
and is widely considered to be the finest example of his work.
The organ of St Paul's Cathedral in Melbourne was also built
by Lewis.
The Shakespeare Memorial and Window
William Shakespeare was perhaps St Saviour's best-known
parishioner and wrote most of his 39 plays while he was
connected with the Globe Theatre.
This window, designed by artist Christopher Webb, replaces the
previous Charles Eamer Kempe window destroyed by enemy action
during the Second World War.
The design is based around the Jesse Tree, taking root from
the alabaster memorial sculpture showing Shakespeare at rest
in a Bankside meadow. Prospero in the central light forms the
trunk, with Ariel above and Caliban at his feet (The Tempest).
Further figures from Shakespeare's plays can be found in the
tree's branches. These include characters such as Romeo and
Juliet, Othello, King Lear, Lady Macbeth and Hamlet.
Shakespeare's brother Edmund was buried in St Saviour's in
1607 and is commemorated by an inscribed stone in the paving
of the quire.
The Cathedral Shop carries a number of souvenirs concerning
Hodge.
A Ceiling Boss
"The Children of the Church delighting in the Great Allegory,
"The Pilgrim's Progress" dedicate this window in memory of its
pious author John Bunyan, AD1900"
The Pulpit
Detail of above
We met William in the courtyard. He didn't have much to say.
We had lunch at "The Mudlark" pub before making
our way to St Paul's Cathedral for 3:00pm Evensong.
The Cathedral Choir sang the responses by
Ayelward, the Howells in B minor canticles, and the anthem
"Bring Us, O Lord God" by William Harris. Psalm 46 was sung
to the well-known chant attrributed to Martin Luther. The
boys of the choir rose to the occasion to sing the descant
on the verses "the Lord of hosts is with us...". Their
voices echoed around the cathedral for several seconds. A
wondrous effect! The organ voluntary was "Allegro Assai"
from Sonata No 4 by Guilmant. All the musc was excellent and
there was a large congregation present.
One was not really supposed to take
photos but one couldn't resist these two! There will be an
opportunity for photos later in the week.
Our accommodation is very near to London Airport. It's
great fun to watch the jets as they come in to land.
Luckily, they stop around 8:00pm so we are not bothered by
them at night.