A Priory Friday
Clockwise from top left: organ tuning - the Festival of Stories viewed from the Parish Office - multi-tasking churchwarden - a Priory Guided Tour
A rather dull grey Malvern morning did not reflect the hive of activity that was the Priory this Friday.
As the congregation at Morning Prayer shared the liturgy of the simple service, and the words of scripture and prayers echoed into the Priory, visitors stood, reflecting, in front of the art and poetry exhibition in St Giles’ chapel.
In the North Porch, a churchwarden and volunteer doubled up welcoming visitors with attempting to make an (amateur) video clip, with amusing results. A Priory Tour Guide arrived.
’We’ve got a pre-booked tour, later’ he said, entering the Nave, to be greeted by the sound of the organ being tuned, ready for the organ recital tomorrow.
Preparing, too, was the Deputy Custos, cheerily shifting chairs into the ‘organ recital configuration’, replacing yesterday’s ‘Lunch Box configuration’ for the So-Xcited Morris Dancers - what an amazing event that was, making full use of the new level Nave floor. But that wasn’t it… there’s the ‘Just-a-Cuppa St Giles’ Chapel configuration (including urn)’ to get ready for tomorrow morning, too. Priory chair shifting is a task that never comes to an end.
Meanwhile, the eagle lectern received his weekly polish, surely sparkling as brightly as the day he was installed.
A walk across the churchyard past the tents buzzing with the chatter of hi-viz-clad children at the Festival of Stories, to the Parish Office, where the Parish Administrator is ‘sorting out Christmas’ with a volunteer. Brightly coloured posters stream from the copier, carefully piled to go to their destinations. With Christmas ‘sorted’, for this Friday, anyway, they move onto Lifepath - it’s never too soon…June’s not that far away - and another tiny piece of the giant jigsaw which is Lifepath drops into place.
Back in the Priory, the tour is in full swing. The fine detail of the faces in the Victorian stained glass is admired by the group. ‘They’re really accurate, as the craftsmen were working from photographs’ explains the Tour Guide.
As the tour group disperse to explore the delights and welcome at the Friends’ Priory Shop (never too soon for Advent calendars, Christmas cards and decorations; all proceeds to the Priory!), the Assistant Custos walks by, to the sound of the organ, with a hand full of freshly-printed posters for the North Porch noticeboard.
A hive of activity.
But by the candle stand, and beneath the exquisite mediaeval stained glass, in the peace of St Anne’s Chapel, figures sit. Still. Deep in prayer. A reminder to all that the Priory’s foundations are in prayer.
