Whitby

Vol 4 mentions my involvement in obtaining information about Michael Nazir-Ali but he was not elected Archbishop of Sydney. Philip Jensen was firmly against ordaining women. p.697 May 17 confirmation of Dennis and Louise for which Dad wrote a lovely anthem which went well. p.700. p.722 the anthem was sung again at Addiscombe. p.723 John East's kind comments about the anthem. p.724 my visit to York on the way to Whitby. This was my first encounter with Monastic musicians. We had earlier met Fr Mark Hartley from Mount St Bernard who was the convenor. I was thinking it was all going to be so dreary at Smeaton but the truth was it was great fun. The nuns and monks were away from their communities and happy to let their hair down and share frustrations. Can you imagine being a qualified musician prevented from playing the organ because a certain sister always played! And not very well! The concert at the end of the week was a hoot with the lovely Sr Madeline giving her "Miss Otis regrets" She often said "Never despair, there are little lights everywhere doing their best". I think I might have been on the steam railway on this occasion. I well remember walking into York Minster to greet one of the sisters who were the same community as the Whitby nuns (Holy Paraclete - Anglican) and she knew all about what we had been doing. There was one Taize evening when we were told we could leave at any time but I just couldn't and stayed to the end! The Christmas letter mentions Penny Tuck assisting at Addiscombe. She had a bubbly personality and became a Catholic. later she left which was sad. The 1993 St Cecelia service was at the Abbey.Elgar Great is the Lord.we met Fr Farmer. In fact we went most years to this service and Sons of the Clergy.

Fr Mark at Mount St Bernard abbey organised the Monastic musicians meetings.