Ballachulish Colourful Choristers
We were very lucky to have Frank Conn with us when we went to join with some local choristers at St John’ for Evensong…as he is a very good photographer! The following two were taken on a miserable wet day, but still have a sparkle about them….. or maybe it is the rainbow colours of choir robes!!
On the Communion Table behind the choir were the Communion vessels allegedly used before the battle of Culloden.
The perfect choir?
Click on the link below to see one of my most favourite-ever cartoons…..
A number of real compliments!
Following the Ballachulish Evensong, we were so pleased to have the following letters directly on our other blogsite ( http://irishpisky.wordpress.com ) or forwarded to us from Julie, the organiser:-
Thank you for organising such a great treat for us all with Choral Evensong – a long time since I enjoyed a service so much as did everyone else – and seeing so many people C of S & RC there too shows ecumenism is working – so roll on your next one in July.
Everyone played their part well, readers, choir was superb, & Donald. Glad to hear St John’s restoration was benefiting so well …..
kind regards Cathie Mac Coll (who is in her 80s & from Glencoe)
You and the Vestry deserve great plaudits for organising such an excellent and spiritula Evensong. Nice to see Cxxxxxxx Macxxx at the back and to enjoy the superb tea afterwards where everyone mingled ! A long time since I enjoyed such a fine evensong
love …….John
Evensong at Ballachulish was something to be remembered for a long time. Thanks to all who arranged this beautiful service and Haste Ye Back….from Alisdair Campbell
I am sorry that I couldn’t be there on the day, but some of the folk from my congregations went and found it different to anything they had been to before and enjoyable! I thought I should pass that on to you as it’s always good to get positive feedback and some people are usually quicker to criticise than praise.
Alison Burnside (Rev Mrs)
St Munda’s l/w Duror Parish Churches
Makes it worthwhile doesn’t it!
A great sound in Argyll!
On Sunday we joined St. John’s Episcopal Church in Ballachulish, in Argyll, and all the Episcopal Churches in the West Highland Mission,to hold the service of Sung Evensong. You can’t miss the Church, in its glorious setting halfway between Glencoe and the Ballachulish Bridge.It has an ancient history and we were proud to be asked along. The graveyard is of great historical interest, and they have the Communion Cup and Plate reputedly used by the Jacobites just before Culloden. The building is in much need of restoration, but the beauty conceived by the architect still evident. You can find general information about them on the Diocesan website http://www.argyllandtheisles.org.uk/ballachulish.html .
They would welcome any contributions to their fabric fund, so if you would like to make a donation, you can contact them via the Diocesan website as their current Restoration Appeal website is not operating just now.
Music Details:-
We were pleased to be supplemented by local choir members, and a total of 18 singers filled the choir stalls. This allowed us to have a rousing service of well-known hymns, the traditional sung responses, collects, Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis, and Psalm 119 (only a small part!). In addition we had an Introit and Anthem.
Introit:- ‘Collect 21′
Hymns:-
- Angel Voices, ever singing
- Saviour Again to Thy Dear Name we Raise
- The Day Thou Gavest
Psalm: 119 vv 33-40 Double Chant ‘St John’s’
Anthem:- ‘I saw a new heaven’….a first performance. Some of the words of the Revelation of St John were the inspiration of this piece, and if you want some more information on it, you will find it under ‘To compose or not to compose’.
It was wonderful to see a goodly number in the pews who had come from as far as Fort William and Oban. It was evident that many knew the Office and the hymns off by heart and they had little need of the Order of Service.
We would like to thank all those involved in the arrangements, especially the Friends of St John’s, the Rev Donald Davidson, of Kinlochleven, who led the service, Elsa the Organist who had a lot of new, and difficult, music to practise and play on what proved a slightly-temperamental organ. Last but not least, the choristers who helped us raise the roof in this lovely old building!
