Return to Rochester

On Thursday, 12th of June, some of us pilgrims made a return trip to Rochester. During the pilgrimage, we went to the cathedral and took part in a very meaningful communion service in a circle, and sharing the bread and cup with the person to the left of us. It was a memorable event for all of us. We had a tour of the cathedral scheduled, but we had decided to get on with the walk of the day instead. Therefore, it was good to make a return trip to Rochester and see the cathedral.

Luke found out about a concert of The Sixteen doing a 2014 Choral Pilgrimage, so it sounded perfect. The Choral Pilgrimage “aims to bring music back to the buildings for which it was written”, and the ensemble is singing choral works this year from the 15th-16th century. Sitting in that beautiful cathedral and listening to the voices that blended together wonderfully, it all seemed to have been acoustically perfect. We were taken back to the 1500’s, and reminded that worshippers 500 years ago probably heard the same songs in the same place. It was a glorious experience, and a reminder of the great cloud of witnesses that have gone before us. All of the songs, except for one, were sung in Latin – but the written programmes included the words in both Latin and English.  One of the songs (in Latin) by John Sheppard had simple words, but with the melody and the meaning of the words, it was heavenly. “Let us bless the Father and the Son with the Holy Spirit, so worthy of praise, so glorious and so high above all for ever.”  

It was good to spend a short time together in the cathedral, worshipping God with others in such wonderful surroundings, and encouraging one another on our spiritual pilgrimage with Jesus.