Just a Priory Thursday

Clockwise from top left; BBC Hereford and Worcester radio interview; planning the Christmas Welcome Day; manufacturing miniature Nativities; an interim collection for the Christmas Toy Appeal.

In a sequel to the ‘Vicars only work on Sundays’ series of blog posts, here’s the second in what’s become another mini series ‘Just a normal Priory’ (for episode one, see ‘A Priory Friday’).

Priory Thursday got off to an early start; even before Morning Prayer, when a member of the Priory Development Plan Steering Committee was invited to give an interview to BBC Radio Hereford and Worcester. He’d been invited to talk about the Priory’s unique collection of fifteenth century mediaeval stained glass, which is on the national Heritage at Risk Register. The first mediaeval stained glass window, which depicts God creating the world, in St Anne’s Chapel, has been conserved, protecting the fragile painted glass from the weather. It’s been placed behind a layer of modern protective glass that now takes the brunt of the worst that Malvern’s meteorology can throw at it. There are a mere 13 more huge, beautiful, mediaeval stained glass windows left to protect and conserve, before the Priory can be removed from the Heritage at Risk Register.

Back in the Priory, an impromptu gathering of folk involved in the Christmas Welcome Day (that’s Saturday 30th November, coinciding with the Great Malvern Christmas Market. Free refreshments, music and activities. All welcome, including dogs on leads) convened in the Priory Friends’ Shop. Tables and the shifting of chairs were discussed. Rotas, too. It wouldn’t be a Welcome Day without rotas. The Priory urn was not forgotten. It’ll be primed, ready to provide warming drinks to one and all on the 30th.

And in a home, not far from the Priory, the final touches were being made to miniature nativities, handmade inside acorn caps from the Holm Oak in the Priory churchyard. Boxed and mounted onto oak plinths made from 250-year-old timbers from the Priory nave floor, they’re replacement stock for the Priory Friends’ Shop, alongside the amazing range of Advent calendars, Christmas cards, guide books, souvenirs, jewellery and so much more.

For the first time this year, the Priory’s been the collection point for a local charity supporting children in need in Worcester Royal Hospital and in the community. The request for new, unwrapped children’s toys, and toiletries for parents staying in hospital, went out, to the Priory and to the community. No one quite knew what to expect, but the organisers have been overwhelmed and the collection boxes have been regularly emptied by a charity volunteer to make space for new donations. Thanks to everyone’s support, there’ll be Christmas cheer for youngsters and their families this year. If you’d like to add to the collection, the boxes will be in place, by the font, until Monday 18th November.

But the day wasn’t over yet. In the evening the Priory prayer group, ‘Fellowship, Worship and Prayer’ met to do just that, in the Lyttelton Rooms. This month’s theme was ‘Mission far and near’, learning of and praying for the Priory Mission Partners at home and farther afield, and for all the activities at the Priory over the upcoming Advent and Christmas season.

Thursday 14th November was just another extraordinary ordinary Spirit-filled Priory day.