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| 2279: Holy
Trinity, Exmouth, Devon, England |
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Mystery
Worshipper: Lambert.
The church:
Holy
Trinity, Exmouth, Devon, England.
Denomination:
Church
of England, Diocese
of Exeter.
The building:
The church dates from 1824. The tower, nearly 100 feet high,
is the most prominent landmark in Exmouth. Pevsner dismissed
it in 1952, noting it had been "completely and regrettably
renewed in 1905 by the indefatigable [George] Fellowes-Prynne"
(referring to the late 19th century champion of High Church
Gothic Revival). However, I thought it had great dignity, elegance
and grandeur. Since 1905, much further improvement and restoration
has taken place. Damage to the windows in 1942 has resulted
in some striking, if rather brash, stained glass. In 1993 an
imaginative scheme created a first floor committee room and
coffee bar, with a crow's nest room above.
The church:
This is one of two churches in the parish of Littleham-cum-Exmouth
with Lympstone. There is a great variety of services, from Book
of Common Prayer holy communion, sung eucharist, morning
praise, family service, video, and the enigmatic "service
with no name" (prayer, praise and teaching led by the music
group). Something on offer for people of all traditions.
The neighbourhood:
Exmouth, a seaside resort in East Devon, enjoys a substantial
summer tourist trade and serves as a regional centre for water
sports and outdoor activities. Holy Trinity is a little way
from the central square and is surrounded mostly by residential
housing. It appears to be largely a middle-class neighbourhood.
The cast:
The parish was in interregnum at the time of my visit. The celebrant
and preacher was the Revd Ian Pusey, one of the associate priests.
The date & time:
Sunday, 5 June 2011, 10.00am [editor's note: The report was
filed on 16 November 2011].
What was the name of the service?
Sung Eucharist.
How full was the building?
Just under half full. However, it probably holds some 300-350
people when full.
Did anyone welcome you personally?
Yes. We were greeted at the door by the sidespeople.
Was your pew comfortable?
As comfortable as a Victorian pew with a perpendicular back
can be.
How would you describe the pre-service
atmosphere?
It was fairly quiet, although there was some chatter. The organist
played some quiet music for about eight minutes until the service
started.
What were the exact opening words of the
service?
"Good morning, everyone." We all responded likewise.
What books did the congregation use during the
service?
There was a printed service booklet produced by the parish covering
Easter to Trinity. We also had a psalter and a Mission Praise
hymn book.
What musical instruments were played?
The pipe organ. It was quite large, and the organist played
it confidently, giving plenty of support to the congregational
singing.
Did anything distract you?
The celebrant was in a chasuble. The choir were in blue robes,
but the organist was wearing a brown t-shirt. It seemed a bit
informal, especially as he mingled with the choir for the peace.
Was the worship stiff-upper-lip, happy clappy, or
what?
It was moderately formal, following the liturgy in the service book without deviation.
Exactly how long was the sermon?
16 minutes.
On a scale of 1-10, how good was the preacher?
6 – It was a decent theme, but I felt it lost its way.
It could probably have been half the length without losing any
of the meaning.
In a nutshell, what was the sermon
about?
It was based on the gospel for the day, John 17:1-11 (Jesus
prays that the Father may glorify him and protect those who
believe in him). This was one of Jesus's longest prayers. There
are different ways of approaching God through prayer, including
"Elizabethan language" that probably does not impress
Jesus all that much.
Which part of the service was like being in
heaven?
The confident organ playing and good singing from the congregation.
And which part was like being in... er... the other place?
The service seemed to lack any sense of holiness. There were
constant interruptions: the greeting, hymn announcements, page
numbers, etc. And the preacher's remark about Jesus not being
impressed by Elizabethan language seemed strange in a service
that used the 1662 Prayer Book form of the prayer of humble
access almost verbatim.
What happened when you
hung around after the service looking lost?
I couldn't stop as I had a train to catch, and the service had
lasted much longer than I expected – almost an hour and
a half.
How would you describe
the after-service coffee?
N/A.
How would you feel about making this church your regular (where 10 = ecstatic, 0 = terminal)?
5 – It was a bit cold for my liking.
Did the service make you feel glad to be a
Christian?
Yes.
What one thing will you remember about all this in seven days' time?
The architecture. |
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