Here you will find the monthly entry from St Michael's for the Parish Magazine.

News and Views - Mostly from St Michael's

Like all churches with a central tower or spire we have a space beneath it which invites drama, of one sort or another - the altar and the sanctuary beyond, the transepts as wings and the nave for the audience.  

And drama indeed it had on the eve of Advent Sunday, from the works of Dorothy L. Sayers. The initiative came from the producer, Frances Clemson, and the achievement of the whole team was highly praiseworthy. And, no doubt, very hard work. If the blood was in the drama, the tears, toil and sweat (to complete the quotation) were probably literal as well. So, our gratitude and congratulations!

The production had to contend with the fact that the central space is not friendly to the spoken word - indeed the pulpit, originally where the Michael statue now is, had to be moved for this very reason. King of Sorrows, as part of the play-cycle, The Man Born to be King, was written for radio (nearly 70 years ago). It was a landmark in broadcasting and arguably the BBC's most successful religious broadcast ever. But its meditative and argumentative words can be under strain when openly staged.  

Even so, this production was most imaginative in providing visual images to accompany those most powerful of words - the words of the gospels in Sayers' skilful and distinctive setting. Much help was given by the Dorothy L. Sayers Society.

The next day was Advent Sunday and we began the season (as customary) with the Litany as it was originally intended - sung in procession before the main mass. Then it had petitions for the prayers of St Mary and the saints and for the ministry of angels - these we have restored in the version used at the Easter vigil. On the second Sunday of Advent we had the Advent Carol Service, one of the main musical offerings of the year - and very good it was, concluding with Nigel's voluntary, Bach's Wachtet Auf! and Stephanie's mulled wine.

John Thurmer.