Society of Saint Gregory

Lucky you Alan29. We too have lots of deathhs in the parish but the first funeral I have been asked to play for since January 2020 will be in two weeks' time.

I can recommend a book called 'The Hidden History of Women's Ordination' (forgotten the author and I can noi longer find it on my shelf) but it goes right back to the early church - who was doing what, why and when) and how it all got suppressed. Guess why?

That all sounds very complicated Keitha - but where I have 'been' over this Easter, the officiating clergy have done their own singing - and very competently I should add. I'm happy with that.

As did the Dean of Northampton yesterday for the livestreamed Mass for the Annunciation - he sang the essential bits unacc (Gospel Acclamation, Sanctus, Memorial Acclamation, and a Taize Communion prcessional). Not a lot, but it worked and under the circumstances, what more could he have done? It wo...

Yes - I'm looking forward to meeting him properly in due course. Didn't see anyone filming, though a photoragher was wandering around and came up to the gallery at one point. +Peter will be much missed.

I sang yesterday (19th March St Joseph's day) at the consecration and installation of the new bishop behind closed doors - it went well considering the circumstances but felt very odd. At one point I looked over the gallery and counted about 20 in the (authorised) congregation - all well spaced. A g...

Thanks Southern Comfort. It's a long way for me, but I might be able to manage it.

I'm not able to do this one, so I'm looking at Buckley and Burham on Sea. There are two Catholic churches in Burham on Sea: English Martyrs and St Andrew - which is it please?

Yes - it was a good day - I especially appreciated the opening talk by David McLaughlin - v interesting but he was running short of time and kept having to move on.

I don't think there is a 'gold standard' - it's more a question of taking the good with the 'rest' and ignoring what you don't want. Some years ago I eventually decided on CFE - which ticked some boxes I was looking for. There is an awful lot in it that is simply a waste of space/paper IMHO - but at...

Good points Organist. It's the karaoke aspect and the associated poor vocal production that get me - all shouting, not singing.

Indeed! Actually it was barely recognisable as he played it with so many ornaments (like a very very self-indulgent singer!) - but none the worse for that. That's maybe why I didn't recongise the going-out piece he played. BUt it sounded fine and did the job.

Well said Oops! I have it in my will that I want a proper Requiem Mass then it doesn't matter what they do at the crem - they can't spoil it. BTW, to return to original topic about playing at funerals - I played for one this morning (a Mass) when a friend/relative of the deceased played the coffin i...

The Purcell could have been Thou knowest Lord the secret of our heart. I sometimes play that.

Thank you everyone for all these (very full!) answers.It seems that there are some apparent contraditions in the various documents (and I wonder if this is deliberate). My personal view is that communion under both kinds should be the norm - unless there are good reasons (e.g. logistics) for not doi...