Westminster Hall and Westminster Abbey

[Durham]

Originally Posted by An Ard Ri

Westminster Abbey is currently celebrating St Edward ,Saint and King who is buried at the Abbey. The Shrine of the king lasted until the 1530's when it was smashed up but later restored under Mary I only to be torn down again under Elizabeth I.

https://www.westminster-abbey.org/ab...ting-st-edward

Fascinating stuff. This is one reason why I'd be be sad to see the end of the coronation service for British (read English) monarchs in the abbey. The links to England's history are immensely deep & so profound.

[An Ard Ri]

Another highly interesting figure was John Feckenham the last Abbot of Westminster abbey (1556-1560).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Feckenham


https://www.westminster-abbey.org/ab...m-alias-howman

[Durham]

Originally Posted by An Ard Ri

Another highly interesting figure was John Feckenham the last Abbot of Westminster abbey (1556-1560).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Feckenham


https://www.westminster-abbey.org/ab...m-alias-howman

Yes he certainly is. It must have been such a bewildering time to live through whatever your beliefs. At least he wasn't put to death. A small mercy.

[Curryong]

I've always felt quite sad when in English churches and cathedrals when contemplating what happened during the reformation and its aftermath. The smashing of tombs and shrines and stained glass windows, the removal of statuettes of saints and whitewashing of wall murals and carved wooden gilded Angels that must have made even small churches such colourful places for their congregations. There's just enough left (and some rediscoveries like wall murals after centuries of neglect) to realise what was lost. The bare bones of English Norman churches and cathedrals are magnificent, but ....

[Durham]

Originally Posted by Curryong

I've always felt quite sad when in English churches and cathedrals when contemplating what happened during the reformation and its aftermath. The smashing of tombs and shrines and stained glass windows, the removal of statuettes of saints and whitewashing of wall murals and carved wooden gilded Angels that must have made even small churches such colourful places for their congregations. There's just enough left (and some rediscoveries like wall murals after centuries of neglect) to realise what was lost. The bare bones of English Norman churches and cathedrals are magnificent, but ....

Yes I know exactly what you mean. It's almost like a bereavement. The lost world of English Roman Catholicism. The generations of devotion. There are a lot of ghosts as it were.

[An Ard Ri]

I agree so much was lost and destroyed an example is the smashed statue of
Saint Margaret from St Andrew Church, Fingringhoe in Essex,personally I love to see it restored.

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jbNKEufI2...argaret%2B.jpg

Tomorrow Westminster Abbey marks the Fest of All Souls Day there will be a Sung Eucharist Service @ 5pm.

https://www.westminster-abbey.org/ab...ls-day-service

[Durham]

Originally Posted by Durham

Yes I know exactly what you mean. It's almost like a bereavement. The lost world of English Roman Catholicism. The generations of devotion. There are a lot of ghosts as it were.

Rereading this I meant to refer to the lost world of Roman Catholic England rather than English Roman Catholicism.

The English monarchy was after all a very Catholic one modeled on the French kings.

[An Ard Ri]

A little further information on the 2 icons at Westminster Abbey one of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Christ and the other of Christ.

https://www.westminster-abbey.org/ab...tminster-abbey

[An Ard Ri]

In preparation for Christmas Westminster Abbey will host a 45-minute lunchtime seminar on Monday November 30th dedicated to the pictures and portraits of the Blessed Virgin and Child from the collection of the National Gallery’s.

https://www.westminster-abbey.org/ab...nder-seminar-i

[Durham]

Sounds fascinating. I hope it's made available on their website.

[An Ard Ri]

Originally Posted by Durham

Sounds fascinating. I hope it's made available on their website.

Tickets were free up until lunchtime today but hopefully they will have a podcast of the event.

[An Ard Ri]

The Choir of Westminster Abbey will broadcast a Festive Christmas Concert 'Live from London' at 7.00pm on 15th December.

https://www.westminster-abbey.org/ab...-sweeter-music

[Heavs]

The seminar doesn't seem to be available to view on the site but tickets for next week's are still free and available. The Advent Podcast is up if anyone's interested.

Originally Posted by Curryong

There's just enough left (and some rediscoveries like wall murals after centuries of neglect) to realise what was lost. The bare bones of English Norman churches and cathedrals are magnificent, but ....

Yes, the stone and whitewash of ancient churches (or Victorian churches pretending to be ancient) is such a quintessential English church look that it's easy to forget that they would have been extremely colourful places once upon a time. Many of them do have very faint traces of colour on the stone work that's fascinating. And yes, then someone moves something that's been there for 500 years and you find an amazing treasure painted behind it.

[Durham]

And not just the interiors. The glorious west front of Wells Cathedral was painted.

[An Ard Ri]

Christmas Worship at Westminster Abbey and what a beautiful nativity scene!

Evensong on Sunday 13th December at 3.00pm

Carols and Readings for Christmas with the Abbey Choir on the 22nd of December at 6.00pm

Midnight Mass on 24th December at 11.00pm will be live streamed from the Abbey.

https://www.westminster-abbey.org/ab...erever-you-are

[Frelinghighness]

Originally Posted by An Ard Ri

Christmas Worship at Westminster Abbey and what a beautiful nativity scene!

Evensong on Sunday 13th December at 3.00pm

Carols and Readings for Christmas with the Abbey Choir on the 22nd of December at 6.00pm

Midnight Mass on 24th December at 11.00pm will be live streamed from the Abbey.

https://www.westminster-abbey.org/ab...erever-you-are

thank you for this! the evensong was wonderful

[An Ard Ri]

Wasn't it a Festive delight!

[Durham]

Must be wonderful to have the opportunity be in this great church for midnight mass.

It seemed so busy & commercial the last time I went.

[Heavs]

They do try and make services focused on the actual worship.

If anyone's at all interested I recommend a choral compline there which they have/had from time to time. Very intimate and they turn the lights off in the immediate Quire area so its just candle light. Almost like being transported back a few hundred years in time.

[Durham]

Originally Posted by Heavs

They do try and make services focused on the actual worship.

If anyone's at all interested I recommend a choral compline there which they have/had from time to time. Very intimate and they turn the lights off in the immediate Quire area so its just candle light. Almost like being transported back a few hundred years in time.

Thank you for that information. I don't get to London that often but that's certainly something I'd like to experience.