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Ship of Fools: Ripon Cathedral, North Yorkshire, England

The Mystery WorshipperThe Mystery Worshipper Shipmate
edited May 6 in The Mystery Worshipper

imageShip of Fools: Ripon Cathedral, North Yorkshire, England

Easter vigil with bells, incense, holy fire, and a drenching of holy water

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Comments

  • Amanda B ReckondwythAmanda B Reckondwyth Shipmate
    The services of Holy Week, culminating in the Easter Vigil, are perhaps the most moving of all. This sounds like it was a truly lovely service. But the chanting of the Exsultet is one of the prerogatives of a deacon. I'm surprised that no deacon was present in a cathedral.
  • Alan29Alan29 Shipmate
    In the RCC the Exsultet may be sung by a lay person if the clerics are not "up to it." I have sung it many times. It is a great privilege.
  • SpikeSpike Ecclesiantics & MW Host, Admin Emeritus
    Amanda B Reckondwyth wrote: »
    I'm surprised that no deacon was present in a cathedral.

    Deacons are often (but not always) “trainee” clergy based in a parish. IME it’s unusual to see a deacon as part of the ministry team at a CofE cathedral.
  • Alan29Alan29 Shipmate
    Is it worth mentioning that Ripon is one of three cathedrals in the recently formed diocese of Leeds, alongside Wakefield and Bradford.
    Wiki has a thorough article https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglican_Diocese_of_Leeds
  • ForthviewForthview Shipmate
    I love Ripon cathedral, although I have never attended a service there.
  • Bishops FingerBishops Finger Shipmate
    Spike wrote: »
    Amanda B Reckondwyth wrote: »
    I'm surprised that no deacon was present in a cathedral.

    Deacons are often (but not always) “trainee” clergy based in a parish. IME it’s unusual to see a deacon as part of the ministry team at a CofE cathedral.

    Our Cathedral had an *official* deacon for a while (a local lady) who continued on the staff (as a Priest Vicar) for a year or so after she was ordained priest. She is now Rector of a parish in the Diocese. I can't recall if she ever sang the Exsultet, though - on the one occasion I attended an Easter Vigil at the Cathedral, it was chanted by one of the Lay Clerks.

    @Spike 's point about deacons remains valid, however.

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