Society of Saint Gregory

Having on odd occasions worshipped in a church with video-hymns, readings and notices (though not illustrations for the homily!) I could see the attraction, since I've yet to find a hymn book which contains everything I'd like to use. But the copyright implications are huge, and it really does need ...

My original question really derived from the fact that the diocese had allocated us a pittance to buy music, which we've spent, and now we are being asked to pay for the privilege of being in the Diocesan Music Group. Other dioceses manage to pay splendid musicians to do sterling work around their r...

MCB wrote: the repertoire is probably a bit more ambitious and diverse than I imagine you'd be likely to achieve with an all-comers' scratch choir. I could be doing diocesan choirs an injustice, though! Well, we aren't exactly a scratch choir - we meet at least once a month, and rehearse more regula...

Following on from the Leeds Choral Director ad, Lesley asked about other diocese, which is worthy of a new topic.- Mod I'd be interested to know how other dioceses fund their music. Here in the balmy north east, members of the diocesan choir are being asked to pay a membership subscription because ...

I'm bemused that you are all making physical contact in these apparently pandemic-threatened times We have been advised by our Bishop that we cannot touch each other - though I have heard the occasional celebrant pointing out that there's no reason why a married couple should not do so at the approp...

Our young people specifically asked for, in their Confirmation service: Marty Haugen's 'All are welcome' Paul Wellicome's 'Send forth your Spirit, Lord' Paul Inwood's 'Gathering Mass' and sang all of these things with great gusto. But equally they will sing 'Now thank we all our God' and 'All people...

On my way to bed (6 1/2 hour drive back from Norfolk due to accidents and road works), but just wanted to say thanks to Fr Tim, Paul, John, Anne and Matt for a wonderful week. I don't think I've ever heard so many of the 'first-timers' waxing so lyrical about the warmth and fellowship as they did th...

On the day when the Cathedral Dean came out before the Ordination Mass to inform the assembled masses that the Bishop had consulted the Health experts and the ruling was: Communion under one kind only, in the hand only, and just smile at your neighbour and murmur sweet nothings at the Sign of Peace,...

I'm sure Thomas is absolutely right. The problem with the Ukulele is that it suffers even more than the Guitar from the problems we experienced about 30+ years ago - you can get by with three or four chords and virtually no skill. The resultant sound always seemed to me so bad that we'd have been be...

I wonder if it's a peculiarly Roman thing? I had pretty much the same experience this morning in my parish church: at the end of Mass one of the old dears came up to complain that the organ was 'far too loud today, in fact it hurt my ear drums' (needless to say, there were no more stops out this mor...

At our Confirmation Mass on Friday we had "All are welcome", "We shall draw water", "Everyday God" and "Christ be our light" but did end with "Shine, Jesus, Shine". They were largely the young people's choice and certainly we could hear the young peo...

"Heart of Jesus, desire of the everlasting hills" - what on earth is that about? As a convert of many years' standing, I'd say that's the sort of thing that gives the Roman Catholic church a bad name. And my parish is dedicated to the Sacred Heart too.

There's a wonderful Methodist hymn "Come, thou fount of every blessing" which includes the line "here I raise my Ebenezer". Can anyone tell me why one would want to raise an Ebenezer, even if one had such a useful article?

We used to have a machine that gave us electronic chimes, in the days when our PP was a very enthusiastic, charismatic Irishman (two before the one we have now). I'd advise caution in its use. Fr T set it to play a cheerful peal as the bride came out of church after the 11.00 am wedding. Lovely, eve...

Oh, and the Word of God, of course, which is always read well - and despite no loudspeaker, I can hear that!