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The church: St Philip's Cathedral, Birmingham, England.
Denomination: Church of England.
The building: St Philip's was originally a city centre church and was completed in 1715. It gained cathedral status in 1905, when the diocese of Birmingham was created. It is typically Baroque – box shaped, with a rounded east end resulting in a light, airy and uncluttered interior. Probably the most notable features are the stained glass windows by local craftsman Sir Edward Burne-Jones at both the east and west ends.
The church: It seemed to be a popular place to just drop in and sit quietly for a few minutes, and quite a number of people did this during the time I was there.
The neighbourhood: The church is right in the middle of the bustle that is Birmingham city centre, about five minutes walk from New Street station and even less from Snow Hill. It is surrounded by a fairly large expanse of beautifully kept grass and seems to be a popular spot for having lunch or just sitting a while. Despite the buses squealing to a halt beside the cathedral area it still manages to maintain an air of tranquillity.
The cast: Canon Gary O'Neill.
Choral evensong.
How full was the building?
Practically empty – I counted five people in the congregation. Others wandered in (and out again) during the service although one or two of these stopped and sat quietly at the back.
Did anyone welcome you personally?
I was with the choir. We were welcomed by the head verger, who asked if any of us had visited there before.
Was your pew comfortable?
The choir stalls are not uncomfortable and seem to have sufficient leg-room.
How would you describe the pre-service atmosphere?
It was all very peaceful and still.
What were the exact opening words of the service?
The opening line of the introit: "Thou knowest, Lord, the secrets of our hearts"
What books did the congregation use during the service?
The BCP and the New English Hymnal.
What musical instruments were played?
The organ.
Did anything distract you?
The people wandering around during the service, particularly the two young ladies who walked in part way through, walked right up to the front, sat down for less than five minutes and then walked out again. I have to say I also found the stained glass something of a distraction.
Was the worship stiff-upper-lip, happy clappy, or what?
Anglican choral evensong. What more can one say?
Exactly how long was the sermon?
This being evensong, there was no sermon.
Which part of the service was like being in
heaven?
There was an atmosphere of stillness and serenity throughout the service
which was particularly noticeable during some of the quiet verses in the
psalms. It was wonderful.
And which part was like being in... er... the other place?
A case of being literally in the other place. Towards the end of the service,
the sun streamed in from the west through the "Last Judgement" window.
The dominant colour of the stained glass is scarlet, and it bathed the
whole of the otherwise dark west end in an infernal red glow. There was
a staircase at the back there, descending into the nether reaches... or
maybe I've just got an overactive imagination.
What happened when you hung around after the service looking lost?
I had to rush off to catch a train so I wasn't able to hang around. I
did notice the Canon standing around at the back, presumably to talk to
visitors.
How would you describe the after-service
coffee?
There was coffee and biscuits for the choir, but I had to rush off, so
didn't get a chance to try them! There wasn't anything for any of the
other worshippers though.
How would you feel about making this church your regular (where 10 = ecstatic, 0 = terminal)?
6.
Did the service make you feel glad to be a
Christian?
It was good to be worshipping in this way, but glad to be a Christian?
Not sure.
What one thing will you remember about all this in seven days' time?
That west window!
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