Forget Your Perfect Offering

[poliphilo]

We went to church twice over the holidays. Once in Brenchley on Christmas morning, early and the second time in Hadlow this Sunday.

Hadlow is the village where I spent my early adolescence. The church has a Norman tower and bells that still can ring. There are crusader crosses in the stonework round the door, 17th and 18th century hatchments in the nave and a set of clumsy, early twentieth century, stained glass windows- one with a knight in a dark wood and St George standing on the dragon's head. Being there felt entirely natural- not like a homecoming but as if I'd been gazing round at these things every Sunday of my life.

I'm tired. I don't want to argue about theology anymore.  I've tried all sorts of different religions and none of them was any better than the one my ancestors made. Anglican Christianity isn't perfect- I reserve the right to disagree on points of detail- but I think it'll last me the rest of this life.

Comments

[zoe-1418.livejournal.com]

I'm having some similar -- although probably milder -- leanings right now. I wasn't raised anglican/episcopal, but started attending in my early 20s and was confirmed around age 30... then dropped out in favor of quakerism, uu-ism, and not-much-ism ... Have I ever told you glassgirl7's and my little joke that we are "Quakertarian Episcopagans"?

Anyway, we're about to move to a new (to us) house in an older part of town, and I've noticed that the new place is a short walk/bike/drive from a lovely little Episcopal church. And I've been getting the idea that after we move I'm going to try it out. I've been thinking generally this way ever since reading "Take This Bread" by Sara Miles.

Best to you.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I went to a Church school with a great musical tradition. Benjamin Britten wrote his St Nicolas oratorio for our school choir. These things leave a mark.

I'm intellectually attracted to Quakerism and Unitarianism, but I've never followed through.

Surely that's not Sara Miles, the actor- or is it?

I'll be interested to hear how you get on with your local episcopalians.

[richenda.livejournal.com]

I didn't know that it was written for a school - but it's very very good - especially the three children

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Peter Pears had been a pupil at the school. I attended a performance in the school chapel- sometime in the '60s- in which Pears was the featured soloist.

Sara Miles

[zoe-1418.livejournal.com]

the journalist and the lesbian (and the would-be atheist):

http://saramiles.net/

Re: Sara Miles

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

How very interesting. I think I need to read this book.

Re: Sara Miles

[zoe-1418.livejournal.com]

Oh yes -- I highly recommend it!