A good stroll through Traflagar Square (1) and past the household cavaley (horse guards), brought us to Whitehall, the seat of the British civil service. Number 10 Downing Street was around the corner behind a strong security fence.
Westminster Abbey held a sung eucharistic service this morning. We were held at the entrance after security, while the choir and priests filed by. We were subsequently directed to the left transept and a QR code for the order of service on our phones. While we could not see the choir in the central aisle, their crisp, clear voices filled the church. The Dean of Westminster (2) shared the presiding duties with at least two other priests (3). When the service ended, we were politely but firmly ushered out (4).
In the Dean's Yard, adjacent to the Abbey, we approached a café. The security guard said he would let "these three young ladies in" even without a reservation. Across the Thames for a view of Parliament, then back through Traflagar to Picadilly.
Afternoon tea us apparently a big (and quite expensive) thing in London. After being turned away from a number of places that were full, we found a simple café where we had tea, scones, jam and clotted cream. The penultimate train through the Chunnel at night brought us to Paris.
(1) Named after the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, during which the British Fleet under Lord Nelson decisively defeated the combined French/Spanish fleet off Cape Traflagar in southwest Spain. The English victory ended the theat of a French invasion of England for much of the remainder of the Napoeonic Wars (which ended at Waterloo in 1815).
(2) His homily was quite good; I can see why he is Dean.
(3) It appears that there is some process for visiting priest from the Anglican Communion (a) to participate in services at the Abbey.
(a) The Angican Communion includes the Episcopal Church in America.
(4) Being a Sunday, the church is open for Religious services, but not for tourist visits.
No comments:
Post a Comment