Thursday, 15 June 2017: Feast of Corpus Christi at Oxford Oratory

Having set aside just one night of my 17-night trip for Oxford, and arriving mid-afternoon, I spent a couple of hours just taking in the sights. I did do some shopping at Blackwell Music Shop.

I had also figured out that I would be there for the traditional Thursday after Trinity Sunday feast of Corpus Christi. I also knew that there is an Oratory in Oxford, so I should be able to attend a really nice Mass. Indeed!

Oxford Oratory Church of St Aloysius Gonzaga.

The Oxford Oratory was originally a Jesuit church, built soon after the Catholic Emancipation Act in the mid 19th century.

The Sanctuary. (not quite as many statues as the Duomo!)

The pulpit.

Entrance doors' artwork: English Martys (L), Jesuit Saints (R).

Marian side chapel.

As to the Mass, I was definitely not disappointed! Once the prelude music was over, the Procession began with more organ music. As the ministers reached the Communion rail, the choir began chanting the Introit. I was absolutely in heaven, as I immediately recognized the organ accompaniment to be from Nova Organi Harmonia! The entire Mass was quite beautiful. I don't remember what Ordinary was sung - it may have been polyphonic. But the entire congregation joined in on the Credo III, which is traditionally paired with Missa XVIII, de Angelis. The surprise was that the organist accompanied it in a very romantic style, with lots of registration changes, varying in loudness and intensity. He began much like I would, but built a bit until the "incarnatus est", where he changed to the quietest Voix Celeste stops. From "Crucifixus" on, he built by adding stops, until at the "et unam , sanctam, catholicam et apostolicam ecclesiam" which he played in octaves, manuals and pedal. There really wasn't much more building he could do through the "Amen", but the whole experience was intense!

The choir loft and organ.

I met the organist afterwards and greatly complimented him. It turns out he has original copies of all seven volumes of Nova Organi Harmonia! He also kindly gave me a ride over to Christ Church, so I could make a 12-bell ringing practice. The bells in this tower were unringable back in 1980, so this was another new tower for me, and another new pub afterwards!