St Augustine's, Dumbarton - Scottish Episcopal Church

Mrs Blethers was encouraging me to write my PofV on Tuesday evening’s service, and having ascertained from ye olde English teacher that she meant “Point of View”, I decided that I owed the “Blog” some sort of personal reflection! So here goes…….

In lots of ways it was like going back to see Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs! I’ll explain. When I was a boy, this film had such an effect on me that I returned to see it again and again. In my thirties I had the opportunity to see it again, and it still held the same magic for me!

So it was on Tuesday. I was revisiting the church of my childhood, and indeed the church I was ordained into. High Mass, bells and smells, sung gloria, creed, sursum corda, proper preface, pater noster, the lot. I hadn’t even forgotten the tunes! It was a “Snow White” experience, and I loved every minute of it! The magic, the dignity, the feel of something completely sacred. It was just wonderful!

The 1970 Liturgy was the catalyst for my “conversion” and my offering of myself for ordination, so the Liturgy will always be special for me. Being surrounded by so many friends, including priests that I admire greatly, was simply a tremendous bonus!

To be surrounded by so much love was something I will never forget, and at some points I had to hold back the tears.

Down points? The fact that neither my son nor my father could attend. Also, I must confess, the number of St Auggie’s folk who chose to stay away because of the “High Church” that was on offer. I guess in a parish where there wasn’t a candle on display 12 years ago, this is understandable, but it did hurt a bit. It’s not as if this is going to be a common event.

The upside was that those who did attend all remarked on the beauty of it all, and thoroughly enjoyed it!

I’m still making up my mind about the Country & Western impromptu hymn that followed the communion, but it seemed to be appreciated, and, hey, this is St Augustine’s after all, where anything can happen.

My thanks again to all who made it such a terrific event! You know who you are!