| Today was the installation service for
| |
| | rushing in. With a crisis averted,
|
| the new Dean of Manchester. I had been
| |
| | everyone took their place in
|
| recruited to be the crucifer (cross
| |
| | line.Suddenly, I heard, "Geoffery, come
|
| bearer), mostly because I was the only
| |
| | in. The bishop needs his staff." I
|
| one willing to give up my Saturday
| |
| | turned to my left and saw the slightly
|
| morning to attend church. I had toyed
| |
| | panicked Head Verger looking hopefully
|
| with the idea of attending the service
| |
| | at walkie-talkie. It wasn't talkie-ing
|
| anyway, since the Cathedral is my parish
| |
| | back. I laughed out loud at the
|
| church. Also, I have learned to
| |
| | absurdity of the situation. The Verger,
|
| appreciate a good ceremony during my time
| |
| | perhaps too involved in the Bishop
|
| in this country. The English are
| |
| | crisis, didn't appear to appreciate the
|
| unparalleled in their ability to do pomp.
| |
| | moment's comedic value.Grasping his
|
| The Church of England, in particular,
| |
| | walkie-talkie a little more desperately,
|
| takes full advantage of its resources so
| |
| | the Verger repeated his message,
|
| one can be assured a splendid choir,
| |
| | "Geoffery. Do you have Bishop's
|
| apocalyptic organ and regal brass
| |
| | staff?"Silence.The Verger moved a few
|
| accoutrements. When other countries try
| |
| | steps to his left. "Geoffery! Can you
|
| to be ceremonial, the result is always a
| |
| | hear me now??"Visions of Operation
|
| bit naff, like they are re-enacting the
| |
| | Vestment began to roll around in my mind.
|
| real thing with costumes they got from
| |
| |
|
| their childhood dress-up box.This
| |
| | [melodramatic voiceover]
|
| occasion involved civic as well as
| |
| | "Deep in the bowels of an ancient
|
| religious dignitaries so there were all
| |
| | Cathedral, a lone Verger is searching
|
| manner of horsehair wigs, tri-cornered
| |
| | frantically for the Bishop's staff. He
|
| hats, ruffs, surplices, shiny military
| |
| | is trying to desperately to communicate
|
| medals, swords, ecclesiastical vestments,
| |
| | with Geoffery, the second in command, but
|
| sceptres, orbs and even an outrageous hat
| |
| | his efforts are in vain. Clearly the
|
| or two worn by a borough mayor's wife.
| |
| | Cathedral's builders were not
|
| An unwitting passerby could be forgiven
| |
| | anticipating this moment when they built
|
| for thinking the Cathedral was holding a
| |
| | walls too thick for radio waves to
|
| fancy dress party.So I was standing in
| |
| | penetrate. The Bishop cannot join the
|
| the corridor behind the nave waiting for
| |
| | procession without his staff!What is the
|
| the service to get underway. There were
| |
| | Verger to do?!Will this slight
|
| loads of people milling about in
| |
| | miscalculation by 17th century builders
|
| different outfits. The choir were bored
| |
| | jeopardise the entire service?Stay
|
| and mischievous, the Vergers fussing over
| |
| | tuned..."
|
| every detail and the civic dignitaries
| |
| | [fade out]The five-minutes-till-showtime
|
| were hopelessly confused about where they
| |
| | bell rang and everyone got into position.
|
| were supposed to stand and where various
| |
| | I retrieved the cross, a spiffy gold one
|
| pieces of their ceremonial dress were
| |
| | today, and led the choir into the side
|
| supposed to go. As usual, the clergy were
| |
| | aisle. When organist belted out the
|
| hiding out in the back room until the
| |
| | introduction of the opening hymn, I set
|
| very last second.A woman was keeping note
| |
| | off. Another Cathedral service had
|
| of which dignitaries had arrived and as
| |
| | begun.It is not one that is often
|
| the start time came closer, she become
| |
| | performed, as Deans tend to stay around
|
| more and more agitated that Tameside and
| |
| | for a while but nonetheless I was glad
|
| Wigan still had not arrived. Honestly.
| |
| | that I had got out of bed and
|
| Did they get the email? Were they were
| |
| | participated. The event was not of
|
| included on the revised list? Wigan
| |
| | global or even national importance but
|
| hurriedly made their way to the holding
| |
| | quite meaningful for the Diocese of
|
| room, tri-cornered hat and gown slightly
| |
| | Manchester, parishioners of the Cathedral
|
| askew, and the lady was now able focus
| |
| | Church and, of course, the new Dean,
|
| all of her annoyance on the
| |
| | Rogers Govender.So, congratulations
|
| as-yet-to-appear Mayor and Mayoress of
| |
| | Rogers.See you 'round.Marcia Adair is a
|
| Tameside.Wigan got a text message:
| |
| | freelance writer and fine art
|
| "Tameside is stuck in traffic" As the
| |
| | photographer based in the North West of
|
| start time grew nearer, the woman in
| |
| | England.Her photographs are available for
|
| charge had to work harder and harder to
| |
| | commerial and artistic purposes and may
|
| keep her freak-out at bay. Then, at the
| |
| | be viewed at is also available for
|
| eleventh hour, Tameside and his wife came
| |
| | writing assigments.
|
