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| 1863: St Peter
& St Paul, Uppingham, Rutland, England |
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Mystery Worshipper:
Diapason.
The church:
St
Peter & St Paul, Uppingham, Rutland, England.
Denomination:
Church of England, Diocese
of Peterborough.
The building:
The church dates from the 14th century although it has been
much altered over the centuries. Four pieces of late Saxon sculpture
are all that now remain from the earliest church to occupy the
site. In the churchyard are several interesting graves and memorials,
including a coffin lid propped against the outside wall of the
south aisle, bearing carved stonemasons' emblems. The interior
features several beautiful stained glass windows.
The church:
There are four churches in the Uppingham benefice. They offer
a wide range of worship and a thriving range of activities,
including a Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament. According
to their website, they aim to welcome all visitors as well as
residents of the town and nearby villages.
The neighbourhood:
Uppingham is a market town in the smallest county in England.
The church is situated in the heart of the community, off Market
Square near to the well-known Uppingham School.
The cast:
The celebrant was identified only as Father Peter, but I believe
he was the Revd Peter Morrell, assistant curate. The Revd Canon
Stephen Evans, rector, served as deacon.
The date & time:
Sunday, 29 November 2009, 10.30am.
What was the name of the service?
Parish Communion.
How full was the building?
Full – wonderful! With lots of young people.
Did anyone welcome you personally?
Yes. A lady at the door welcomed me as she gave me the books
needed.
Was your pew comfortable?
Yes. Oak pews, with comfortable addition of red carpet on the
seat.
How would you describe the pre-service
atmosphere?
Noisy chatter, but there were so many children!
What were the exact opening words of the
service?
"Welcome to worship."
What books did the congregation use during the
service?
New English Hymnal; Sts Peter & Paul, Uppingham
Parish Communion Booklet; notice sheet with readings.
What musical instruments were played?
A fine pipe organ.
Did anything distract you?
Not really.
Was the worship stiff-upper-lip, happy clappy, or
what?
Middle-of-the road. There were bells at the consecration.
Exactly how long was the sermon?
10 minutes.
On a scale of 1-10, how good was the preacher?
7 – Father Stephen's sermon was very interesting and he
held the attention of most of the congregation.
In a nutshell, what was the sermon
about?
He linked the recent Cumbrian floods to Advent in a very clever
way.
Which part of the service was like being in
heaven?
The mass setting was by Noel Rawsthorne, former organist at
Liverpool Cathedral and composer of many choral works, and was
lovely to hear.
And which part was like being in... er... the other place?
Yelling by some enthusiastic children during the consecration.
What happened when you hung around after the service looking lost?
People stayed for coffee, so I followed the flow.
How would you describe the after-service
coffee?
Very good coffee served in white china cups. Their website includes
a link to Trading Fairly, so I assume the coffee was fair trade.
How would you feel about making this church your regular (where 10 = ecstatic, 0 = terminal)?
8 – It was good to see a full, living, and vibrant church,
complete with Sunday school.
Did the service make you feel glad to be a
Christian?
Yes.
What one thing will you remember about all this in seven days' time?
The full church. |
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