Mystery Worshipper: Vagrant Congregant
Church:
Holy Trinity Cathedral
Location: Manchester, New Hampshire, USA
Date of visit: Sunday, 20 August 2017, 9:00am
The building
The church was built in 1915 and renovated in 2016. The exterior is a curious mix of stucco, neoclassical arches, and Eastern domes.
The church
They have a Moms in Prayer group, a seniors group, Sunday school for the children, and call their choir the Frederick Chopin Choir. One mass is celebrated each Sunday in English, and they have morning prayer and the mass on weekdays.
The neighborhood
Manchester, in the southernmost part of New Hampshire, is the state's largest city. It is consistently ranked among the most livable of American cities. Polish immigrants were attracted to Manchester because of the cotton mills as well as the foundry. In the mid 19th century, Manchester was home to the largest cotton mill in the world. Today, one of Manchester's principal industries in Segway, Inc., maker of the self-balancing two-wheeled electric scooter by that name. The church sits in the middle of a residential neighborhood, within walking distance of St Joseph's Roman Catholic Cathedral.
The cast
The Rt Revd Paul Sobiechowski, Bishop of the Eastern Diocese.
What was the name of the service?
Holy Mass, Year AHow full was the building?
There were 37 people in attendance. The church did not feel empty, however.
Did anyone welcome you personally?
I entered late, so I managed to enter quietly after the asperges finished.
Was your pew comfortable?
It was!
How would you describe the pre-service atmosphere?
I entered late. However, the congregation throughout the mass were reverently quiet. I suspect that was the pre-mass atmosphere.
What were the exact opening words of the service?
"In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen."
What books did the congregation use during the service?
A mass booklet and the Polish National Catholic Church Hymnal.
What musical instruments were played?
The organ was played and there was a choir in a choir loft – where God intended.
Did anything distract you?
I prefer a few hymns with one or two verses. However, the PNCC mass has a lot of hymns. In addition to the standard mass hymns, there was a "Hymn to the Holy Spirit" before the sermon. Then, after the communion hymn there was a post-communion hymn. In all we sang 13 times. Far more than I'm used to!
Was the worship stiff-upper-lip, happy clappy, or what?
It was formal. There are different canon options in the PNCC missal and the traditional canon was used. Interestingly, the celebrant followed traditional rubrics like holding the paten upright in the prayer after the Lord's Prayer.
Exactly how long was the sermon?
7 minutes.
On a scale of 1-10, how good was the preacher?
8 – The bishop's preaching style was very informal and comfortable.
In a nutshell, what was the sermon about?
The homily centered around being a welcoming people and making sure we are inviting.
Which part of the service was like being in heaven?
The church is absolutely beautiful. It has been completely re-done inside with gorgeous stenciling.
And which part was like being in... er... the other place?
It was a lot of singing for me. A lot.
What happened when you hung around after the service looking lost?
After mass, the congregation presented a scholarship to one of their altar servers to go to the University of New Hampshire. They were clearly very proud. I ran out of the pew to take photos of the church. A parishioner joked with me, "We charge by the photo!" and was very friendly. A lady invited me to the choir loft to get better photos! They are rightly proud of their space. The bishop and his wife greeted me. PNCC clergy can marry and in fact are encouraged to do so.
How would you describe the after-service coffee?
There was no after-service reception. However, the bishop shared that he had to go to a youth gathering that afternoon.
How would you feel about making another visit (where 10 = ecstatic, 0 = terminal)?
9 – The church is beautiful, the people were friendly, and the bishop was gracious. After mass he was offering baseball tickets to people so they could attend a game he couldn't.
Did the service make you feel glad to be a Christian?
Yes, definitely.
What one thing will you remember about all this in seven days' time ?
All the singing.