St Marylebone, London

Mystery Worshipper: Cool Dude
Church: St Marylebone
Location: London
Date of visit: Sunday, 10 February 2019, 11:00am

What was the name of the service?

Choral Eucharist.

How full was the building?

Impressively full. I would say 220, though in the time-honoured English tradition the congregation filled the pews from the back, not from the front, so there were some large gaps at the front. After the collect of the day the children all left us – I would guess 40 or 50 of them – for Sunday School, with some adults. The congregation were quite mixed socially, demographically and in ethnic origins, and there was an unusually large number of young families. If only one more often found such a broad mix at church.

Did anyone welcome you personally?

A greeter handed me the hymnbook, weekly bulletin and order of service.

Was your pew comfortable?

Yes. It’s a bit of a lottery whether a pew fits one’s shape and angle of recline – but this one suited me.

How would you describe the pre-service atmosphere?

Distinctly chatty, which is perhaps inevitable with so many children present at that stage of the service.

What were the exact opening words of the service?

‘In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.‘

What books did the congregation use during the service?

New English Hymnal and the service sheets.

What musical instruments were played?

Organ – a large modern instrument by Rieger-Orgelbau GmbH of Schwarzach, Austria, at the west end of the church. The capital cost and use of the organ are shared with the Royal Academy of Music, just across the road from the church.

Did anything distract you?

The prayers of intercession were several minutes long and very comprehensive – so that the focus of my intentions drifted.

Was the worship stiff-upper-lip, happy clappy, or what?

Common Worship, with traditional wording options taken. It was a middle of the road Church of England service, with a slight lean towards the liturgical end of the spectrum: vestments were worn, the priest processed with deacon and subdeacon, there was a gospel procession, and the action was embellished by a sung mass setting. There was no nave altar, so the eucharist was consecrated some distance from us. It was taken at a brisk pace and the choir of ten voices in the sanctuary gave excellent value. The setting was Mozart’s Missa Brevis, which can be disastrous to less confident singers than these. I noticed there were only two readings (no Old Testament) and the Kyrie and Gloria were run together. No incense.

Exactly how long was the sermon?

10 minutes.

On a scale of 1-10, how good was the preacher?

8 — The chaplain (assistant priest) preached on the text of the day accessibly, clearly, and without recourse to theological jargon.

In a nutshell, what was the sermon about?

Taking the gospel text for the day Luke 5:1-11 (‘from now on you will fish for people’), he pointed out that Peter at first refused Jesus' request to cast the nets again for fish, but that later he took Jesus’ word for it that he would reel in a catch. How difficult it is to admit God (he later said Christ) into those parts of our lives that we protect as private and personal, or perhaps find difficult: the nooks and crannies of our lives. In truth, Christ belongs there too, and Peter made the mistake for us. So let us not refuse to admit Christ into those places.

Which part of the service was like being in heaven?

The choir singing a setting of ‘Amazing Grace’ as a gradual. The arrangement was by Steven Grahl, a former director of music at this church (now director at Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford). The choir did it proud, and a tenor and soprano solo were especially moving.

And which part was like being in... er... the other place?

Not hellish, but the acoustics were a little challenging at times. The vicar hadn't switched on his mic, I guess, and was difficult to hear from the opening collect to the notices (the assistant priest's voice carried well in the sermon). The mic at the reading desk had severe interference so that much of the reading was lost. The floorboards under the pews squeaked at the slightest movement, and surprisingly loudly. Happily the choir were readily heard.

What happened when you hung around after the service looking lost?

The vicar invited us to stay for refreshments, and there was a great deal of post-service conviviality. I spotted a couple of people I knew but, as instructed, held back and looked a bit lost, in order to see what happened. I am glad to say that I was soon spotted as a new face and was then introduced to several other members of the congregation.

How would you describe the after-service coffee?

Real, from a filter, in paper cups. Doctor says I must stay off caffeine, but it smelled great and was popular. Chocolate digestive biscuits on the side. I noticed a table with squash and cups for the children outside in the portico of the church. This was a slightly chilly day for squash al fresco, but it was nice to see the younger members of the congregation catered for, and in summer I bet it works well.

How would you feel about making another visit (where 10 = ecstatic, 0 = terminal)?

8 — Dignified liturgy, not overdone, and wonderful music. Lovely old building. My kind of church.

Did the service make you feel glad to be a Christian?

For sure.

What one thing will you remember about all this in seven days' time ?

The way children were well engaged and cared for at this church, comfortably alongside adult solemn worship.