Day 6 and 7...

Canterbury Cathedral is the seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury. This has been the case since Pope Gregory appointed the first Archbishop, Augustine, to Canterbury in the 590's. Thomas Beckett was selected by Henry II for Archbishop in 1162. Those were days of social turbulence and political upheaval. Beckett, during his life, spoke up for the church even when it was add odds with the King. For this, he was brutally murdered by the King's knights in the Cathedral following an evening service on December 29, 1070. The Christian world was stunned. Beckett became a symbol of resistance to the power of the Monarchy. His shrine at Canterbury was the most popularly visited by pilgrims. Chaucer's Canterbury Tales were inspired by the path the pilgrims took, following, from Southwark Cathedral on the West Bank of the Thames in London to Canterbury. The pilgrimage traced Beckett's steps following his last visit in London to speak at Southwark Cathedral.

Canterbury is the most sacred sight for Anglicans worldwide and it was a humbling privilege to lead a moment of inspiration for so many visitors present.  The choir sang the noontime concert on Wednesday, June 25 on the steps to the East of the Great Choir as hundreds of pilgrims filtered by. I was told later how the music filling the Cathedral added to the spiritual experience of the visit of many from our Verger who happens to be an RSCM examiner in the UK to a woman from Dover who visits regularly to hear the visiting choirs. It was a moment for which to remember and give thanks for a long to come. I hope I never forget what it was like.

The precious experiences at Canterbury have prepared us for our next concert at Christopher Wren's St. Paul's Cathedral, London.  We travelled from Canterbury to London on Thursday morning and enjoyed the sights on the way to our hotel in Kensington, just a few blocks from the palace and gardens of Kensington and Hyde Park. From this convenient location, we will conclude our time in England singing at St. Paul's on Friday afternoon (tomorrow), enjoying Saturday in London and bidding farewell on our final evening as a group in Covent Garden. We will sing a Eucharist on Sunday morning before returning to Washington on Sunday afternoon. 

As an aside, it is important here to note a generalization of the comments by those on the tour. To summarize: by the seventh day more than a few have noted their learnings, surprising to them. First, the ancient history of our trek has come as a surprising realization. The primary realization here is  this, being my latest late night writing, the idea of personal journey that connects us to those who have come and gone before us. The path is well worn but not always obvious. I give thanks for this realization in those that I have led on this particular tour and pray that it will remain life changing. I am reminded of this hymn text found in The Hymnal 1982, #667: 

Sometimes a light surprises

the Christian while he sings;

it is the Lord who rises

with healing in his wings:

when comforts are declining,

he grants the soul again

a season of clear shining,

to cheer it after rain.

In holy contemplation

we sweetly then pursue

the theme of God’s salvation,

and find it ever new;

set free from present sorrow,

we cheerfully can say,

let the unknown tomorrow

bring with it what it may.

It can bring with it nothing

but he will bear us through:

who gives the lilies clothing

will clothe his people, too:

beneath the spreading heavens

no creature but is fed;

and he who feeds the ravens

will give his children bread.

Though vine nor fig tree neither

their wonted fruit should bear,

though all the fields should wither,

nor flocks nor herds be there;

yet, God the same abiding,

his praise shall tune my voice;

for, while in him confiding,

I cannot but rejoice.

Words: William Cowper (1731-1800)