After a coffee in the crypt we sat down with our audio guide. It was the most detailed guide I have ever used- an easy to use menu system with a whole lot of little video clips about different parts of the building and different aspects of the churchs work and life. Amongst other things I learnt that the current building is the 5th church on the site, it is the only baroque church in England with a dome, the current Dean preaches to a person in the back row, and Martin Luther's widow was the first female to preach from the pulpit. We listened, wandered, looked, listened some more. There are 2 video art installations by a Bill Viola who I will look up. Apparently St Pauls is the first church in England or maybe Europe to have a permanent video installation. It was about martyrs. Apparently the word martyr is derived from the same root as witness.
We had taken in about as many wondrous things as our brains could handle when a priest announced that there would be a half hour eucharistic service. We went and after the service spoke to the priest who told us his son lived in Melbourne.
Lunch was somewhat disappointing. Though, on the plus side, I have discovered that 'baked eggs' in England means just that . 2 times 1 egg in a little iron ramekin baked in the oven.
We walked over the Millenium bridge to the Globe Theatre and went on a tour - the only way, other than seeing a show, that you can get in. It was most enjoyable. The weather has been very hot and that was enough for the day.
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1 comment:
St Paul's and the Eucharistic service sounds wonderful.
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