THE
P RTAL
October 2018
Page 6
Spare thou them, O God,
which confess their faults
Jackie Ottaway and Ronald Crane at the
Conference of the Prayer Book Society
T
he singing was wonderful: full and lusty. The little chapel was full with over one hundred people.
Although the average age was quite high, it was not an exclusively retired people event. There was a
decent number of younger folk. We had been invited to attend the Prayer Book Society Conference in deepest
Gloucestershire.
It all began in chapel with
Evensong. The singing was
inspirational; the scriptures
read beautifully and the office
led devoutly. We were treated
to a magnificent sermon by
The Revd Dr Adam Dunning,
Senior Chaplain, Cheltenham
College. He tackled head-on
the problems facing society,
individuals and especially the
young, today.
Later that day we listened
to Dr Andrew Gant who
spoke on “In Quires and
Places where they sing: The
Prayer Book and music”.
Quite how he manages to
take us through the history
of Anglican music from
pre-Reformation to the
present day without any
mention of Thomas Tallis, is
beyond our comprehension.
Nevertheless, he was very
good and enlightened many
on a treasury of musical
riches.
The first address was from
Sir Roger Scruton on the
language of the Book of
Common Prayer (BCP). He was informative, funny,
The Society held its AGM during the Conference
and made a good case for the implication hidden in
his title. He was asked if things had gone too far with and there was a final address on “The Life of the BCP
modern language services for it to be brought back. in the English Novel” given by John Scrivener.
He replied, “There is always a way back, as long as you
It was an impressive occasion. We were welcomed
describe it as a way forward!” After a good dinner we
warmly as “fellow travellers”. As was said to us more
chatted until Compline and bed-time.
than once, “Your liturgy is also our liturgy”.
At Morning Prayer the next day, we recited the
We spoke with many of those present, and not once
Athanasian Creed, it being the feast of St Matthew.
Then, following a good cooked breakfast, we were did we need to explain the nature of the Personal
addressed by the Revd Dr Evan McWillimas on Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham. They all
“Style and Substance – The theological battle behind knew just what we are, where we come from and our
Anglican Good Taste in the mid-twentieth century” present position. The vast majority of those present
He too was informative, well researched and, always had, on one occasion or another, read T he P ortal .
important on these occasions – funny.
It seems, therefore, that we have many friends and
His thesis, if understood correctly, was that the liberal well-wishers in the CofE. It is indeed true that our
quest for “relevance and participation” had in fact hit liturgy is also their liturgy; even if our Eucharistic Rite
the wrong target. The many levels of participation, is more 1549 than 1662.
beauty and style are all connected and are both the
We would do well to cultivate these links. Maybe
method and the message. As our worship and theology
are affected by the geography of our churches, so the more members of the Ordinariate of Our Lady of
geography of our churches is affected by our worship Walsingham ought to attend the next Prayer Book
Society Conference.
and theology.