A supportive and sustaining day
It was the 12th of September and I left West Yorkshire for the SCP 25th Anniversary Celebrations in Southwark Cathedral on the 7.50 train. I had heard of these celebrations a year before at the AGM in Hull and had determined to attend. In need of both refreshment and stimulation I was excited to be meeting fellow SCP members in the big city.
Checking my phone during the journey I spotted posts from other equally excited members on their way #wearthebadge. So I clicked on camera mode and attempted a selfie, (carefully ensuring that no one in the carriage suspected what I might be doing)., but selfies taken in that situation are rarely flattering and I bottled out of posting.
My journey had been planned to avoid a dash across London so I arrived at the Cathedral with time to spare. As I went to register I experienced my first delightful encounter of the day – a fellow ordinand from Westcot,t not seen for five years.
Reading the carefully prepared details of the programme for the day I noted that we were asked to maintain an atmosphere of prayerful preparation so I went to sit in the choir, from where came the second delightful encounter of the day, a member of my previous SCP Chapter, again last seen five years ago. Then the Rector of my current Chapter appeared and as we moved to robe in the Retrochoir familiar faces were popping up all around.
Lining up and processing into the body of the cathedral was so SCP – formal but not stuffy, everyone seemed so pleased to be there. The Gathering had the feel of folk coming together to share something of great importance to us all with a little more of that unstuffiness as we turned for the group photo. The Principle Celebrant Bishop Tim Thornton and the preacher Bishop Stephen Cottrell both gave the impression that they were genuinely pleased to be present and the light hearted sermon reminded us of the seriousness of our vocation. Concelebrating with the 8 Bishops and all those Priests was a mighty thing to be involved in.
Our efficiently prepared lunch was distributed in an orderly fashion,( once the wind glasses had been located), and it was out into the sunshine to find those familiar faces and become familiarised with some new ones, before we were whipped back in for a not so boring AGM.
I was thinking that it was my northern body overheating in the south but all agreed that it was too hot to robe for Benediction, so we took our seats in the nave without a procession. To be anointed for service alongside so many others was both humbling and affirming and Jennifer Cooper’s reflection reminded us of the centrality of the Blessed Sacrament. Then during Exposition, the silence which hung in the air drew us yet further into the mystery, at the end of benediction it seemed that none of us were wanting to move away.
But, I soon found myself in the middle of a cluster of Westcottians and the inevitable photograph, (always better when taken by someone else), and then in keeping with a well established tradition we were called to a Thursday evening pint.
My day ended with an evening in the company of a friend I see too rarely; and a night spent in the Royal Foundation of St Katherine.
I became involved in SCP when, the day after my ordination to the diaconate, my training incumbent took me to the conference in Bangor – and volunteered me to deacon at the concelebrated Mass. As a curate in a predominantly evangelical diocese and now as a vicar in an episcopal area where there are a fair number of traditional catholic parishes I have found the fellowship of SCP supportive and the liturgies sustaining. The celebrations on Thursday of last week more than confirmed this. Thank you to all involved in the organisation and to all who shared in the day.
Mthr Margaret Gallagher, Leeds Chapter of SCP.
