Today was an interesting lecture on GF Bodley who designed the church and chapel and many of the accompanying spaces at St. Stevens House. St Stephens House was started by three of the original founders of the Oxford Movement which was begun by high church Anglicans who successfully (eventually) restored catholic traditions to the liturgy etc. that had been lost in the reformation. I suppose you could say they reformed the reformation. Anyway back to the lecture. It was really about the gothic revival period in general and Bodleys work in particular.

It’s hard to imagine living as a monk but there are certain things about it that are appealing to me. Being surrounded by beauty and peacefulness each day are draws. I would however have to get a despensation about getting up early every morning.

Today was a good day conducting. I actually got through the entire piece without being stopped by Dr. Jordan. This may not sound like much but there have been times when we spent the enter time on 8 measures. The choir is amazing. They sing for at lease 2 hours at a time and if we have to conduct the same 2 measures 12 times, that means they have to sing the same. They also couldn’t be nicer human beings. If there are finer college choirs out there, I do not know of them. All of the sound clips on this site are things they have sung this week.  Recorded on my iphone.

The evening closed with plain chant compline. Peace and good night.

As I Walk The Silent Earth, Thomas Lavoy

Conducted by Lucy Hole