LAST SUNDAY IN LONDON

I decided that after church in Catford Ward I would go to St Paul's Cathedral for the 3.15pm Choral Evensong Service. Train to Charing Cross and bus to St Pauls. 

On Sundays they don't take tours through. On entering the cathedral I was given a programme for the service. Because I was early I sat in the front row so I could see clearly.

A lot of pomp and ceremony for this service.

They started with a lady dressed in a robe with red trimmings called the virger carrying a ceremonial rod – a virge. She lead the ministers and the choir to their places. The choir was male with one female. Whenever a minister needed to move somewhere she preceded them. All the ministers were female.

Lucky there was a lot of standing up and then sitting to keep me alert. The seats actually were not that comfortable They were wooden chairs that could be moved to create different seating arrangements.

The man sitting next to me obviously knew what it was all about. He recited the Apostles creed and sang all the songs. The only familiar thing to me was the Lords Prayer. All the scriptures they used did not come from the King James version of the bible.I found that strange as it was King James who established the church.

An hour later it was over and we stood as the virger led the choir and the ministers out. Two of the lady ministers went to the door to greet us as we left.