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The church: Bristol Cathedral, England.
Denomination: Church of England.
The building: Norman in origin, but building work went on until the 19th century. The cathedral stands on an ancient monastic site going back to the 7th century.
The neighbourhood: The cathedral is just off the city centre, opposite the offices of local government.
The cast: The Rt Rev Barry Rogerson, Bishop of Bristol, presided. Canon Professor John Barton preached.
Ordination of Deacons and Priests.
How full was the building?
Very – about 700 people.
Did anyone welcome you personally?
An usher pointed me in the direction of an area of seats. Although he was handing out orders of service, he said there would be a copy on my seat (there wasn't).
Was your pew comfortable?
A chair with reasonable leg room.
How would you describe the pre-service atmosphere?
Loud organ music drowning out excited talking.
What were the exact opening words of the service?
"On behalf of the dean and chapter, may I welcome you."
What books did the congregation use during the service?
A printed order of service for ordinations in Bristol Diocese, and a hymn sheet.
What musical instruments were played?
Organ.
Did anything distract you?
The heat, and people talking during the administration of holy communion.
Was the worship stiff-upper-lip, happy clappy, or what?
A typical cathedral service with modern-ish hymns sung loudly and parts of Mozart's Coronation Mass. It started up in a triumphalist fashion, but halfway through, the mood changed into a reflection on the servant church.
Exactly how long was the sermon?
12 minutes.
On a scale of 1-10, how good was the preacher?
8.
In a nutshell, what was the sermon about?
Just as Cranmer's prayer book directed the priest to stand at the north end of the altar so that people could focus on the bread and wine, so should ordained ministers enable the laity in their vocations.
Which part of the service was like being in heaven?
A calm period of silent prayer before the candidates were ordained, followed by the singing of the ancient hymn, "Come Holy Ghost our souls inspire".
And which part was like being in... er... the other place?
Not being able to join in the hymns, because I didn't have a service sheet on my chair and didn't know the words. Also knowing that one ordinand was being made deacon in a separate service by a "flying bishop", where there would be no women priests.
What happened when you hung around after the service looking lost?
I knew people from different parts of the diocese so I didn't have a chance to look lost.
How would you describe the after-service coffee?
There was no coffee, as people gathered outside to greet the newly ordained.
How would you feel about making this church your regular (where 10 = ecstatic, 0 = terminal)?
5 – I like cathedral music, but wouldn't enjoy all the civic ocassions and the sucking up to the establishment which goes with it.
Did the service make you feel glad to be a Christian?
Partly, but I also had a sense of unease that these people were being ordained into a church whose numbers are shrinking and which is not fully engaged with the secular world.
What one thing will you remember about all this in seven days' time?
The sermon, which affirmed the ministry of lay Christians, rather than concentrating on a priestly caste.
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