Travel Log - Day 15

This was my last full day in London, and my last chance to get to some Latin Masses - or any important church connections in the area. It was also my last chance for advance bell ringing in London, although I should get some ringing in both Edinburgh and Dublin. So first I went to St. Martin in the Fields to ring. Some regular ringers were already on holiday, so we didn't ring all 12 bells. I rang some Stedman and Grandsire Triples (7 bell methods) and we had some call changes on the front 8. We rang down the middle 6 bells last, and I was on the 5th. We caught after chiming in "Queens", in perfect rhythm! This was my second visit to this tower.

Then I went to this hidden away, very historic Catholic Church just off Holborn Circus. St. Etheldreda's was the first Catholic church to be restored to Catholic status in London after the Emancipation Act in the 19th century. This was a High Mass in the new rite - OF Mass - with music by Mozart (the father) and congregational chant. It was beautiful! Only the Readings and Homily were in English. I took lots of photos since the post WWII windows are very nice with rich symbolism.

First, the basic church:

Lots of symbolism in the Sanctuary window. 9 choirs of Angels; God the Father; the Holy Spirit; Christ the King; the Blessed Virgin and St. Joseph; Sts. Etheldreda (a.k.a. Audrey) and Brigid of Kildare; and the Last Supper. (see if you can spot Judas.)

The side windows have Stations of the Cross and other biblical scenes.

I decided to havejust one more meal at The Old Swan: Sunday beef roast with all the trimmings, and of course Kopparberg Pear Cider! I have tried some other restaurants and cuisines, but a Londoner would have a favorite pub in his/her neighborhood - so this was mine. Now it was time for a short "power" nap!

I met Fr. Jeffrey Steele last summer at the Sacra Liturgia USA in New York City. Shortly thereafter he became Parish Priest at Our Lady's Church, St. John's Wood in Lisson Grove. This church was subjected to a quite recent wreckovation and had lost a lot of member. Fr. Jeff is working on the Liturgy and music first, then the building, and the congregation is already growing back. This is also a very historic church - the first new Catholic church to be built after the Emancipation Act.

As I entered, the organist was practicing, and there was a very out of tune pipe! I offered to tune it - Fr. Jeff didn't know I was a pipe organ builder (or at least a recovering pipe organ builder!) and was happy to have a little help making the organ sound better. So, I have done my first tiny bit of organ work in England!

 That's pretty much it for today. I'm just waiting for my laundry to done in the dryer so I can go to bed. I need to check out by 10:00 and will hopefully be on a train for Edinburgh by 11:00, arriving there late afternoon.

Travel Log - Day 14

Having gotten to the Changing of the Guards late the other day, I decided to try to get there earlier. Well, somewhat. I did get good videos of one guards' band leaving their barracks, and two other videos of the other band returning to their barracks.

Then I took the train to Mottingham, a part of Lewisham, south of the Thames, to meet my FaceBook friend, Katarina Gerrard. She had a friend visiting with her, and her son and daughter came and went while we chatted. She even cooked up a Bosnian recipe of pasta that was great! We spent almost six hours getting to know each other, and then I had to get back home. A wonderful afternoon! FaceBook IS a good place to meet friends!

Travel Log - Day 13

I had a late breakfast with my new friend, MariaElena Candilio, at a very old Italian restaurant in Soho, near her father's bespoke tailoring shop that she now manages since his death about a year ago. We met at the Low Mass at St. James Spanish Place last Sunday. We had a very nice time and I saw her shop and the products they produce.

Then I took a nice walk in Regent's Park:

I also caught this video of a magpie:

He seemed to be hiding goodies for later in the dried grass. There may be a nest hiding somewhere near there as well.

And also a nice babbling waterfall:

Beverly Faber is an American bell ringer who lives part of the year in London. She and I were going to have "tea" at "The Dolly's" in the basement of Selfridges. But the live was longer than they had tables for, so we had a snack at "Hary Gordon's Bar & Kitchen":

There are no bell towers with practices either Friday evening or Saturday. I plan to meet my FaceBook friend tomorrw. We were going to see "Tristan und Isolde" on July 2nd, but I didn't make it to London in time!

Travel Log - Day 12

Today was the day for the London Eye. I purchased a ticket online for 1:30-2:00 for a better price and less waiting time than just purchasing at the time of arrival.

On the way down to the Thames, I tried to get to the Changing of the Guards. I got there after the bands had both entered Buckingham Palace's gates, so I waited for them to come back out after the changing inside the palace grounds.

N.B. Almost half of the mounted band below are women!

(You can find a video of the first guards band retiring on my FaceBook page - it's too big to post here.)

On the way to the London Eye, I past Westminster:

Photos of and from the Eye:

I was going to attend the practice at St. James, Garlickhythe, but when I arrived they were attempting a peal (5,000+ changes), so I didn't want to disturb them. When the were successful, I went up to congratulate them. I rang the tenor down in peal with them so that I could the visit to the tower a "grab" officially. Then we went to the pub, of course, and pretty much closed them down at 11:00PM.

Here is a great video about the bells, first for the Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth, and then the bells' installation in the church.

Travel Log - Day 11

I took some time off in the morning - to sleep in and organize a bit. Then I went down to the Thames, on the Westminster side, and took one of the pedestrian bridges across to South Bank. I checked into the London Eye, and decided I would come back tomorrow for that.

Then made my way to Southwark Cathedral - to take some photos before bell ringing practice began.
The tower approaching from the west, and the west entrance exiting to the south:

The choir from the back of the nave, and the organ in the south transept:

The retro choir, behind the reredos of the high altar, the oldest part of the Cathedral, with four Altars for private Masses:

The chandelier and main crossing ceiling, from below and from the walkway to the bell tower:

The bells will be removed starting next Monday and be out for rehanging and refitting for about six months. Two of the 13 bells will be recast, some of the others retuned, but other have enough history with them that they can only be rehung. The bell frame is made of wood, and is the oldest such frame in the UK. It will be strengthened and stabilized only. Tonight was the last practice on the bells, and was a festive occasion. I'm glad I chose to go to this practice!

Then we went to the pub next door. I chatted with old friends that I rang with back in 1980, some new friends from earlier in this visit, and newer friends from tonight. We pretty much closed it down at 11:00!

More tomorrow. Only four days left in London!