Ascension Day

A week on from Rita’s heroic fundraising Wing Walk, a very different ascent was made today.

Following the Priory tradition, members of the choir and congregation ascended the Tower to celebrate Jesus’ ascension in the Ascension Day Tower Top Service.

They were greeted with warm, almost hot, sunshine, a pale blue sky and a backdrop of bright spring-green Hills as they emerged, 124 feet above the churchyard.

Once breath was regained the service began, with prayers, hymns and a Bible reading joining the chorusing birdsong and distant traffic. Maybe the pedestrians on Church Street wondered and looked up as they caught the strains of ‘Hail the day that sees him rise, Alleluia’ and ‘All hail the power of Jesu’s name’ as voices rose in praise?

As the service drew to a close with a rousing ‘Thanks be to God. Alleluia, alleluia’, the Kingdom People of the Priory took in the view stretching out across the Severn Valley, spotting landmarks near and far. Then it was time to descend (attempting, unsuccessfully, to count the steps) and return to school for the Junior Choristers and work and home for others.

The Collect for Ascension Day
Grant, we pray, almighty God, that as we believe your only-begotten Son our Lord Jesus Christ to have ascended into the heavens, so we in heart and mind may also ascend and with him continually dwell; who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Amen