Detail of Shirley's Women's Institute tree in the cathedral
Please do not worry about me but for the second time in a week, I visited Sheffield Cathedral yesterday afternoon. There is absolutely no chance that I will be converted to Christianity as my belief in atheism is rock solid. All that stuff about the baby Jesus, wise men and shepherds is a lovely legend that is part of our western culture but in the final analysis it is pure hogwash. Sorry to disappoint you if you had been taken in by the mythology.
I have always loved to sing Christmas carols and that is why I was at the cathedral. I had a front row seat and a song sheet. Shirley was volunteering at the "Age Concern" shop. I was set fair and from my unholy mouth burst forth the following very familiar carols:"O Come All Ye Faithful", "Away In A Manger", "The Twelve Days of Christmas", "While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks By Night", "Hark The Herald Angels Sing" and "We Wish You a Merry Christmas".
Sheffield Town Hall clock tower and a massive Christmas tree
My singing voice was in fine fettle and perfectly in tune though I say so myselff. I probably overwhelmed the excellent choir of The Sheffield Chorale who were making a guest appearance and slightly frustratingly sang three extra carols that did not require audience participation. Grudgingly, I must admit that their delivery was damned near perfect.
It was a joyous programme, interspersed with some of the boring stuff - like slices of white bread around pieces of grilled sausage. You know what I mean - "The Lord's Prayer " and biblical readings from Micah, Luke and Matthew: "On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary the mother and they knelt down and paid their homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh."
Sorry folks - but there is no evidence that that happened.
After the service, I had a bowl of delicious carrot soup and a small wholemeal roll in the cathedral cafe before making my way home in the fading light. Past the town hall, down The Moor then across the inner ring road to London Road and along Abbeydale Road before making a detour down Broadfield Road to take photos of the lion with electric eyes that I have passed several times in the last two months.
For whatever reason, I felt really happy yesterday - at peace with the world - as I made my way home in the darkness via Carter Knowle Road, Struan Road, Jowitt Road and Bannerdale Road. It's a long slog up that hill. Colourful Christmas lights were twinkling in dozens of windows and I helped an anonymous old man with his shopping bags before getting home to cook rump steaks. In short, I was fully alive, entirely alert and very comfortable in my own skin. Mama done told me there'd be days like this. Burger restaurant on London Road
C.S. Lewis received letters from children who loved his Narnia books.
ReplyDeleteThey said they liked Jesus but much preferred Aslan the talking lion.
Lewis's brother Warnie would laugh and tell him he had a bit of a problem
on his hands.
Lewis too thought Christianity was a myth, but a myth that had really happened in the sweat and blood and shit of history.
You speak against Him, Neil, like most of the cultural elite.
* This child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for
a sign which will be spoken against. *
Luke 2 : 34
"... like most of the cultural elite." I am not singing anybody else's tune Jack. I am just being me and I have never seen myself as a member of the so-called "cultural elite" - whoever they might be. Luke was talking nonsense - unless of course it was the medieval monks who put words in his mouth when they invented The Bible.
DeleteI haven't been a believing or practising Christian for nearly 50 years, but like you I also love to sing Christmas carols! And I did just that this afternoon at a local Christmas concert which had a major singalong component. All religious and spiritual stories are mythology in the best sense of that word, reflecting the human spirit's nature and creativity rather than literal or historical truth. And I just love the Christmas Story of Baby Jesus and what he represents. It's one of the highest expressions of human hope and goodness. The Christian church which purports to act in Jesus' name -- not so much.
ReplyDeleteI like the way you look at it Debra but I would also say that historically The Roman Catholic church's growth in Europe was as much about power and wealth as it was about spreading the word of their God.
DeleteI always love a good sing. My voice is average, my tunefulness is doubtful but I sing anyway.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you had a good time.
What does the historical record say?
The historical record says that "Mr T's" burger place opened in 2024.
DeleteI shall be attending our local Carol Service next weekend; my once a year visit to the interior of the church. Not keen on the Sheffield tree; even less keen on our own!
ReplyDeleteIn your local church perhaps you can volunteer to sing the first verse of "Once In Royal David's City" as a soloist. The congregation will be surprised by the pure sweetness.
DeleteThe Christmas trees are so pretty. I like Christmas Carols too, though I no longer sing out loud, just inside my head.
ReplyDeleteI bet the carols echo off the walls in there.
DeleteSee, it does you good to go to church and sing!
ReplyDeletePraise The Lord! I have seen The Light!
DeleteSinging can do that to you, I find. In any case, I am glad you were happy. I know such times, too, when I don't wish to be anywhere (or anyone) else, but everything seems to be just right for me and with me.
ReplyDeleteThe last line in your post puzzles me. Who is "Mama done"?
It's a reference to a Van Morrison song - "Days Like This".
DeleteGood to know that your voice is still in fine fettle! Perhaps you could make a video and give us a solo? It would go viral on You Tube!
ReplyDeleteThe ornaments on the WI tree look lovely and that lion with the electric eyes is fabulous.
Sorry Madam Carol but I would not wish to be responsible for spreading a virus.
DeleteSo, as long as you add music and singing, you find it uplifting; but when the same message is just read out loud, you find it boring...? And yet the Christmas hymns and music were inspired by those very texts; and the whole cathedral built in honour of them... Just sayin'... ;) (Haggerty above mentions C.S. Lewis; probably no surprise to you - from my blog name and signature - that I'm a fan of Lewis's thinking when it comes to mythology and faith.)
ReplyDeleteYes. They built their Christian churches and cathedrals all over the place but that does not mean to say that the foundations were dependable. Humans on this island of Britain had lived, loved and worshipped for thousands of years before outsiders introduced their Christian messages.
DeleteThere'd be days like this, for sure, and I am sure you have many more ahead of you.
ReplyDelete'Each to their own as long as it doesn't affect me' is my motto. Our big carol service is next Sunday and tonight is my choir concert - also in a church!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great day out. Those are wonderful big bears at Mr T's.
ReplyDeleteSeeing as I do not just not believe in the Christmas myth but in fact, feel mostly sad and depressed this time of year, even the music of the season is unpleasant to me. I see it as one more way the church has managed to manipulate emotions for their own purpose.
ReplyDeleteYeah. I said it.
On Christmas Day, I host dinner and after dinner the family gathers around the piano as my sister plays and we all sing Christmas carols together. It is a sweet tradition.
ReplyDeleteI have no religion any more either but I still like to sing along.
Days like that are very good days, glad you had one. I have a terrible singing voice but I love singing. I don't think any of our churches have Christmas singing though, except at their services.
ReplyDeleteAs another dyed in the wool atheist, I also spent most of yesterday with church things. The day opened with welcoming a group of hand bell ringers to the church. They were there to replicate a full peal of bells. The last full peal in the church was in the late 1880’s on the church bells (which are now clocked). The peal took about three hours to complete - alas we couldn’t stay.
ReplyDeleteWe headed off to Layer Marney Tower - England’s tallest Tudor gatehouse, apparently. We were there for The Messiah performed by Wild Arts. Truly spectacular.
Our village carol concert is on Christmas Eve and follows Seven Lessons and Carols. it starts at 6:30 in a beautiful village church. Hopefully we shan’t be late as we won tickets in the ballot for Carols from Kings. Very excited by that. Tune in at 3pm on Radio 4 and think of me there.
One can not believe in God but be grateful for the music and buildings.
As for the words being boring but when set to music it is wonderful - I am truly grateful I cannot speak German. I love Wagner and am quite happy with surtitles - would hate to hear the English repeating over and over.
I like the architecture of churches but don't really care for what goes on inside them.
ReplyDelete