A sad loss

We must record the passing of Rev Canon Roy Ferguson Flatt, at a relatively-young age.  He was Rector at Christ Church, Lochgilphead in Argyll, where we went in October 2007, for a Choral Evensong. It was the celebration of St. Francis of Assisi, and the whole service was built round nature and animals.

It was wonderful fun and is still vivid in our memory. Can one forget the great spread in the Rectory afterwards? Rev Roy so enjoyed that evening that if you find the website of the church you will see Angelus Singers outside the building just before the service…..shown below.

Some of us will be going up to a gathering in Lochgilphead to celebrate the work he did for the local community. Our sympathies go out to his wife Andrina and their two sons.

Lochgilphead….Christ Church

 

 

Oct 7th….2007

Christ Church, Lochgilphead…….Sung Evensong

 

We are very lucky, in that, in two hours on Sunday we were able to travel through some of the most wonderful Argyll countryside (just as the leaves are changing to that lovely russet, the true indicator of Autumn), to spend time in Lochgilphead. We then sang Choral Evensong with the members of, not only Christ Church, but members from other churches. What a great example of ecuminism!

Just now, the Church celebrates the life and work of Francis of Assisi, probably one of the best-known Saints, because of his association with nature. This was reflected in the presence of a number of (stuffed) animals, the organ music (Carnival of the Animals) and the hymns. By the way, Jack the organist was wonderful and, at 80+, plays like a young virtuoso!

It was a wonderful day all through, and as usual, the hospitality was more than we deseved.

Special note has to be made of one of our members who flew back from Dusseldorf on Sunday morning, managed to get from Prestwick to Paisley, sat the whole way to Lochgilphead by car, practised, sang lustily, and then sat the whole way back to Glasgow (actually she did snooze a little!)…without complaining!

Now, how do we beat that?

Anthem:- ‘Through the Day’…words by T Kelly (1769-1854) and music by Thomas Morley (1557-1602)

Vesper:- ‘Go now in love, go now in peace’ (words and music by Patrick M Liebergen)

 

Angelus with Rector and organist on a lovely autumn evening