Southwell

Southwell minster, with its square tower and twin spires

When I used to come to visit Mum in Bingham, one of our traditions was that we would step away from Sunday worship at the parish church, and attend services at Southwell Minster – about 20 minutes drive from here, but for some time, too hard for her to access on her own. Southwell (pronounced Suth’all) is pre-Norman in origin, and survived the English Reformation pretty well, though it was the site of Civil War damage, an 18th century fire, and considerable restoration in the Victorian era. It was a collegiate institution rather than a monastic one, but wasn’t given Cathedral status until 1884. It makes for a very small cathedral, with an intimate feel to it. 

morning bells call to worship

After morning Eucharist

I would think there might have been about 150 attendees for Eucharist in the morning, which was all in the nave, with the choir (mixed voice) singing in front of the rood screen. The setting was the Haydn “Kleine Orgelmesse”- the Gloria always makes me laugh because it’s one of those in which the four voices are singing four different texts simultaneously (how to make your Missa really Brevis);  when we got to the Benedictus, there’s an extensive organ solo, and what is usually a vocal solo, but which was sung by all the kids. Good favourite hymns, and good congregational singing from all around me.

I love the Chapter-House

We’d talked that morning about plans for the afternoon, but over lunch it became quite obvious that “soggy” was the word – occasional, but heavy showers, and not a day for country walks. I decided that I would go back to Southwell for Evensong, especially since it was marking the end of their season and the planned choir trip to France. We watched the beginning of the men’s finals at Wimbledon and then I snuck away.

The carvings in the Chapter-House are known
collectively as The Leaves of Southwell

I got caught in an almighty downpour on the way over, and arrived to find a bone-dry Southwell! Such weird weather!!  The Quire was full – mostly families and friends of choristers – and they had the whole bunch out, including the littlies in their school uniform instead of cassock/surplice.  Wonderful music – the big Bach Passacaglia for prelude, Dyson in D Magnificat, the Holst Nunc Dimittis and then Britten’s “Rejoice in the Lamb” as anthem. I think Mum would have loved it!  The Dean offered a very nice liturgy of thanksgiving for the four girls graduating from school, and for the very talented young organ scholar who is going on to Christ Church Oxford as organ scholar for his undergrad course.

Got back to find Djokovic and Alcaraz still battling it out – and then after dinner we continued the tennis binge with the women’s doubles.  This trip was great timing for Wimbledon matches!