Saturday 21st September was a beautiful day. We had had rain a lot of the week but Saturday the sun shone. Apparently 10 years ago, the day the Bishop was consecrated in 2003 is was very wet and miserable. He had chosen to be consecrated in the Diocese of Durgapur where is was becoming Bishop. Up till then on the whole they had used the cathderal in Kolkata but he wanted to be consecrated in the place God had called him to work. The compound then did not resemble anything like it does today, bascially the church with the Bishop's house over the top and overgrown land. Some had been cleared and a small tent ut up for the occasion, which was definitely need due to the rain. It was a very muddy day.
But this year as we celebrated his 10th anniversary, it was amazing to hear and see how much has happened in this diocese. We held the service in the Cathedral which is now painted.
It looks so much better than the drab grey of concrete as it had been when I was here earlier in the year,
The interior is also painted and it has a light and airy feel, and windows in place.
All the wood work has been made by their own carpenters here on site, the communion table (or altar as they call it) the three thrones on the right and the lecterns. Not a power tool in sight. All done by hand and a hundred wooden chairs made by hand for the congregation and more will be done. They're amazing to watch as they sit and work (but I forgot to take photos) I would pass them on my way to the diocesan buildings.
As we rehearsed on Friday, it was the first time we had played the correct number of verses; the first hymn had six verses plus the introduction. The children complained how long it was and couldn't I shorten it. I told them it was the processional hymn so the procession of all the ministers with the Bishop at the end had to come in. They continued to complain so I said to them "Do you want me to ask the Bishop for them all to skip and run up the aisle to make it shorter for you?" They did continue to practice all the verses and get use to playing for that length of time.
In the evening the Bishop came across to the cathedral to check preparations for the next day and I said to him "The children have asked if you could all skip and run up the aisle so they don't need to play as many verses?" He smiled at me and said "No!" I knew that would be the answer but I told the children I had asked the Bishop and he said No need to play them all. Here they sing the hymns far far slower than we do so a three/four minute hymn in England is 6/7 minutes here.
Rita Dutta had decided that they would have a new outfit, red shirts with their black skirts or trousers which I only discovered fairly late on. So I said "what am I going to wear?!" My red skirt would clash with the bright red shirts. No problem they had a red skirt made for me in the same material on the Friday, and I wore my black Shirt. They looked amazing.
Some of the girls dressed ready waiting in the hostel - mainly for the boys to be ready.
So here we are sitting waiting for the start of the service in the cathedral.
I came the procession
While we played all Six verses of "O God, our help in ages past our hope for years to come"
The service was two hours long and they sat without talking or shifting around really well. The sermon was reasonably long as it was translated.
Rev Ann preaching and she has been involved here for nine years so has seen tremendous change across the diocese.
The children played eight pieces of music during the service, four hymns, and after Ann preached they played Cesar Franck's Panis Angelicus and three songs during communion. The did a fantastic job as they had only had three of the pieces given to them on the Tuesday to learn. All of eight were learnt in 12 days, they worked very hard and we had some long rehearsals. It was very much appreciated as so often services have no music, the hymns are just sung unaccompanied but then you think that these children have come from the slums and some from more distant villages and would never had a chance to play it is amazing see how they have taken to it and how they want to do their best.
After the two hour service and they had all processed out to O Jesus I have promised - and a verse was cut for that - I presumed was said was "last verse". The service was completely in Bangla but they were supposed to announce hymns in Bangla and English so I knew when to play but it didn't happen all the time but at least Sanjay would say to me - Miss we need to play. So I would start.
They all came in again and many gifts and tribute were paid to the Bishop.
And Trishikh had made a wonderful photographic book of the last ten years with letters from people in the diocese and from around the world which he was given.
Then everyone celebrated together over lunch - all in the same place which was good, the children eating alongside all the guests and it was beautifully sunny all day.
When I have some more time I will post some more pictures and also some pictures of the special celebration programme that the children did for the Bishop in the evening.
But this year as we celebrated his 10th anniversary, it was amazing to hear and see how much has happened in this diocese. We held the service in the Cathedral which is now painted.
It looks so much better than the drab grey of concrete as it had been when I was here earlier in the year,
The interior is also painted and it has a light and airy feel, and windows in place.
All the wood work has been made by their own carpenters here on site, the communion table (or altar as they call it) the three thrones on the right and the lecterns. Not a power tool in sight. All done by hand and a hundred wooden chairs made by hand for the congregation and more will be done. They're amazing to watch as they sit and work (but I forgot to take photos) I would pass them on my way to the diocesan buildings.
As we rehearsed on Friday, it was the first time we had played the correct number of verses; the first hymn had six verses plus the introduction. The children complained how long it was and couldn't I shorten it. I told them it was the processional hymn so the procession of all the ministers with the Bishop at the end had to come in. They continued to complain so I said to them "Do you want me to ask the Bishop for them all to skip and run up the aisle to make it shorter for you?" They did continue to practice all the verses and get use to playing for that length of time.
In the evening the Bishop came across to the cathedral to check preparations for the next day and I said to him "The children have asked if you could all skip and run up the aisle so they don't need to play as many verses?" He smiled at me and said "No!" I knew that would be the answer but I told the children I had asked the Bishop and he said No need to play them all. Here they sing the hymns far far slower than we do so a three/four minute hymn in England is 6/7 minutes here.
Rita Dutta had decided that they would have a new outfit, red shirts with their black skirts or trousers which I only discovered fairly late on. So I said "what am I going to wear?!" My red skirt would clash with the bright red shirts. No problem they had a red skirt made for me in the same material on the Friday, and I wore my black Shirt. They looked amazing.
Some of the girls dressed ready waiting in the hostel - mainly for the boys to be ready.
So here we are sitting waiting for the start of the service in the cathedral.
I came the procession
While we played all Six verses of "O God, our help in ages past our hope for years to come"
The service was two hours long and they sat without talking or shifting around really well. The sermon was reasonably long as it was translated.
The children played eight pieces of music during the service, four hymns, and after Ann preached they played Cesar Franck's Panis Angelicus and three songs during communion. The did a fantastic job as they had only had three of the pieces given to them on the Tuesday to learn. All of eight were learnt in 12 days, they worked very hard and we had some long rehearsals. It was very much appreciated as so often services have no music, the hymns are just sung unaccompanied but then you think that these children have come from the slums and some from more distant villages and would never had a chance to play it is amazing see how they have taken to it and how they want to do their best.
After the two hour service and they had all processed out to O Jesus I have promised - and a verse was cut for that - I presumed was said was "last verse". The service was completely in Bangla but they were supposed to announce hymns in Bangla and English so I knew when to play but it didn't happen all the time but at least Sanjay would say to me - Miss we need to play. So I would start.
They all came in again and many gifts and tribute were paid to the Bishop.
And Trishikh had made a wonderful photographic book of the last ten years with letters from people in the diocese and from around the world which he was given.
Then everyone celebrated together over lunch - all in the same place which was good, the children eating alongside all the guests and it was beautifully sunny all day.
When I have some more time I will post some more pictures and also some pictures of the special celebration programme that the children did for the Bishop in the evening.
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