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Ship of Fools: St Peter, Tawstock, England
The Mystery Worshipper
Shipmate
Ship of Fools: St Peter, Tawstock, England
A parody of Mattins – with heart in hand
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Also - the officiant was not vested, so may perhaps have been (say) one of the churchwardens, authorised to take non-Eucharistic services? This is becoming more common in rural multi-church benefices.
27 is a fair-sized congregation for a country church, especially in these days of Ye Plague, though I'm not sure it's entirely fair to say that the service might be intended to bore children...I'd like to know a bit more about the service itself, as it sounds as though it might have been a modified or shortened form of BCP Mattins. Rural churches often have to try to strike a balance between traditional and more contemporary forms of worship - not an easy task.
Given the difficulties of the time, and the fact that many (most?) Sunday Schools/Clubs etc. are not functioning, 7 Small People in church is encouraging.
BTW, welcome back @Urganda - keep up the good work!
I think it was shortened BCP Mattins (with added Gospel)
Still not allowed even in masks.
I think a shortened form of Mattins is not uncommon these days in country parishes, where a Eucharist is not possible. It's perhaps at least within the spirit of the rubrics, if not the letter, to modify according to circumstances.
You are. However, you don't get to make your own laws.
@Amanda B Reckondwyth
Lead Editor, Mystery Worship.
BCP Mattins can be a tad long-winded, so, if sometimes there are Small Christians in church, ISTM legitimate to do some judicial pruning.
Using the Sunday Eucharist Gospel, for example, also allows some week-by-week continuity, if this is read each Sunday in each of the Benefice's churches, no matter what sort of service is being held.
Perhaps this practice is being followed in the Two Rivers Mission Community (lovely name!), of which this church is a part.