News
The Day I Stood Three Feet from the Queen
One of the members of our Community Fellowship – Vivian Norgrove – was chosen from the Diocese of Hereford to receive the Maundy money from the Queen. Vivian asked me to be her Companion, and she was allowed to take another friend. Janet, a non-stipendiary priest, again from the Hereford Diocese, was asked if she would like to come. She was delighted and offered to drive us.
As it is the Queen’s jubilee year, she herself chose the Diocese of York, and for the first time there were recipients from Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland as well as from every diocese in England.
We three set off in a snowstorm on the Wednesday afternoon – up the M1. When we got onto the A1M I was very struck to see millions of cowslips growing on the embankments. Apparently the authorities in Yorkshire make a point of growing wild flowers along the motorways.
After negotiating the one-way system in York, we were very relieved to locate our hotel. We settled ourselves in, and then we went round the city looking for somewhere to eat. We were trying to find the Shambles, and asked the way from a strapping looking man. He replied, “I’m only here for the night, I’m a Yeoman, and I’m here to guard the Queen”! We eventually found what we were looking for, and again bumped into our friend, the Yeoman. This time he was accompanied by two of his mates. They looked as if they were just off for a drink.
Thursday morning we had a very early start. After a good breakfast we delivered Vivian to the Assembly Rooms, before joining the queue for the police check, only after this were we allowed into the Minster. There were crowds of onlookers waiting for the Queen to arrive. We had to be in our places by 10 o’clock, in time for the service at 11 o’clock.
There was plenty to see with all the different processions, including the choir from the Chapel Royal. The Yeomen’s procession was very colourful, and they were stationed at every gap in the rows of chairs, pikestaffs at the ready.
Then the Archbishop’s procession made its way to the great West doors ready to greet the Queen. At 11 o’clock a great roar went up from the crowd outside.
There is a very ancient ceremony in York connected with the monarchy. Whenever the Monarch enters the city, he, she, may only do so by the Micklegate. A sword is kept there, taken out and turned around for the Monarch to touch. Only then may he, she, enter the city, and then they are in charge of the city for the day. We had to wait for this ceremony to be performed – to say that the Queen came in peace, - before she was allowed to proceed to the Minster.
What a procession! Everyone carried a nosegay, including the Archbishop. A surprise addition to the procession was Princess Beatrice, looking very slim and elegant. The Duke beamed as he passed us, and the Queen looked radiant.
There then followed a feast of music, prayers and readings. After the first reading the Queen went down the north aisle, with the Yeomen carrying huge dishes on which were the bags of money, one white and one red for each of the recipients.
After the second reading the Queen came down the south aisle. Vivian was in the front row, I was immediately behind, and Janet was behind me. I was surprised to see the Queen wearing glasses, and there I was within touching distance. It was a magical moment.
After the service we walked down to the Assembly Rooms for lunch. The crowds were behind barricades and we walked down the middle of the street through all the crowds feeling like royalty!
We couldn’t get out of the city until after 3 p.m., when the Queen left, so we joined the crowds and watched her leave in her Rolls. Then we went back to the hotel to collect the car and our belongings. Then it was back to the motorway to Derby. We just got back in time for the Maundy Eucharist at the Convent, and so ended a perfect day. The sun shone all day, a really scintillating occasion for a Diamond Jubilee.
Sister Brenda
A Special Tree
I have recently visited our three mission houses. Each is very different but each reflects something of our ethos and as does the following experience
There is a dead tree outside the church in Longsight (St Chrysostom’s, Manchester). But this dead tree is ablaze with colour, festooned with bright reds and fluorescent pinks. The coloured ribbons are of all shapes and sizes taken from a plastic bag hanging on the lowest branch of the tree. A notice tells us it is to be a prayer tree and anyone and everyone is welcome to take a ribbon to represent their prayer and to hang it on a branch.
As we were walking past to go into church a young smiling Moslem family were placing a ribbon on the tree. Mum had the pram which held their new baby, the two other children stood under the tree while Dad took a photo of them ‘amidst the prayers of so many others’.
This was a small event during my stay but one that reminded me that our CHN history continues. We were never a Community of huge buildings or large institutions. We are with the people where they are, wherever they are, recognising the needs of each generation and reflecting God’s presence there before us.
Sister Catherine’s Life Vows
What a wonderful gathering of close family, friends and Community for Sr Catherine’s life vows service at noon on Friday 3rd February.
Chapel was full for a joyous and profound occasion.
The Community’s life vows service begins by our front door. As you can see from the photo the sisters leading Catherine (back, right) in procession had barely begun the walk to chapel when a joke was being shared.
Bishop John Inge, our Bishop Visitor, presided and preached. He was thankful for email as there had been a slight panic at the Convent when it was realised that the Gospel reading in the service leaflet seemed to be from John 11 on the raising of Lazarus. In fact this was a typo and the correct reading was from John 13 about Jesus washing the disciples’ feet. Bishop John’s sermon thoughtfully reflected on the latter reading as was intended by Sr Catherine.
He also remarked that to preach on John 11 was perhaps a bit too Carthusian for the Community on what should be a happy occasion especially for Sr Catherine!
At the end of the service we processed to the refectory for a special lunch, chat and more jokes.
Newsletter 2011-12
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