Monday, October 27, 2008

Oriel College Oxford...


...looked absolutely glorious in the Autumn evening light as we arrived yesterday for Evensong, to be followed by dinner at High Table. We were guests of Dr Peter Nockles who is an old friend and a fellow-member of the Catholic Writers' Guild, of which his father was a distinguished Master. Evensong was beautiful, with some lovely singing by the College choir, a really interesting sermon about the (15th cent) Bishop Carpenter who founded the College... and we sang "He who would valiant be" and concluded with "Jerusalem", both among my most favourite hymns...dinner, candelit in the splendid Hall, with Latin grace and the chatter of dozens and dozens and dozens of gown-glad undergraduates, was delicious and hugely enjoyable. Earlier, we had visited John Henry Newman's rooms, including the tiny one that he used as an oratory, and which now has a stained-glass window commemorating him, and his motto Cor ad cor loquitor, engraved on the wall. A wonderful evening.

1 comment:

Jackie Parkes MJ said...

How exciting about Newman's rooms...c'mon Joanna..you're just trying to get a piece of the action! We need you back up here in Edgbaston! lol