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Ship of Fools: St Mary-le-Bow, Cheapside, City of London

The Mystery WorshipperThe Mystery Worshipper Shipmate
edited February 2022 in The Mystery Worshipper

imageShip of Fools: St Mary-le-Bow, Cheapside, City of London

Candles pierce the thurifer’s smog – and oh, those Bow Bells!

Read the full Mystery Worshipper report here


Comments

  • Baptist TrainfanBaptist Trainfan Shipmate
    I guess that passers-by wouldn't have thought about the bells as much more than a 'nice (one hopes!) noise'. Possibly they might have thought it was some civic occasion or looked to see if they could espy a bride. But Candlemas? Not on their radar at all.
  • Nick TamenNick Tamen Shipmate
    But the report was from February 2, 2020, so it was a Sunday, not a weekday. I’d guess that passers-by assumed the bells were for Sunday services, if they thought about it at all.

  • Bishops FingerBishops Finger Shipmate
    edited February 2022
    The Report mentions people not hanging around as they may have had to get back to work, and the time of the service is given as 105pm...

    Is the date of the service correct? 2nd February 2020 was indeed a Sunday, but I'm wondering if this report is actually of yesterday's Mass...as advertised on the church's website.
  • Nick TamenNick Tamen Shipmate
    Bishops Finger wrote: »
    Is the date of the service correct? 2nd February 2020 was indeed a Sunday, but I'm wondering if this report is actually of yesterday's Mass...as advertised on the church's website.
    I’ll admit I did wonder if the date was correct, given this line in the MW report: “Over the last two years offertories have more or less ceased in churches for public health reasons.”

    If it was indeed yesterday, then yes, I can easily imagine that Candlemas was not on the radars of many if any passers-by.

  • Bishops FingerBishops Finger Shipmate
    From their website, there are no Sunday (or Saturday) services, but there are services every day Monday to Friday...
  • Amanda B ReckondwythAmanda B Reckondwyth Shipmate
    Of course I have no way of knowing, but I changed the date anyway.
  • Bishops FingerBishops Finger Shipmate
    I think Miss Amanda is probably right - the church has daily Morning and Evening Prayer (Monday to Friday), with a Eucharist at 105pm on Wednesday.

    As far as I can see from their website's list of special services for 2021, they also have a High Mass at 105pm on certain major Holydays, such as All Saints, and All Souls - which last year fell on a Monday and Tuesday.

    Anyone looking for Sunday services is pointed towards St Paul's Cathedral, which is not far away...

    30 or so attending a lunchtime service mid-week is not too bad. I wonder if that's their usual complement?
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