Recent Events
RECENT EVENTS
FAREWELL TO MYLES ...
There were tears and laughter in the chapel on Sunday 29th January when we said farewell to Myles Hartley, our much-loved organist, who was playing for his very last service before emigrating to New Zealand. Coincidentally (or providentially?) the theme of the service, chosen months previously by Josephine Seccombe and our guest preacher Revd John Swarbrick, was Music - A Way To God. All the prayers and readings were appropriate to the theme; Christopher Whitehouse sang a beautiful piece by Wagner, accompanied by a guest harpist; Myles played a glorious prelude by J.S. Bach at the start, and Widor's thunderous Toccata from Symphony No. 5 at the end. The congregation, led byJoan Young and an ad hoc choir, sang a farewell song in the Maori language. At a gathering after the service, heartfelt speeches were made; Myles was presented with a beautiful card made by Heddwen Hewis and a gift from members of the congregation as an expression of appreciation for all the wonderful music he has shared with us over the past seven years; and there was a final surprise when Bob Redpath (a member, like Myles himself, of the Magic Circle), produced a cake out of thin air, aided by Josephine's young great-nephew Jack, who is an aspiring magician.
… AND WELCOME TO NICHOLAS
The College has appointed Nicholas Prozzillo to succeed Myles as Director of Music. Nicholas was an undergraduate organ scholar at Brasenose College, where he read for a first degree in music. He obtained a further degree (M.Mus. with distinction) in organ performance at the Royal College of Music in London, then spent one year as an organ scholar at the Chapel Royal in Hampton Court before returning to the Royal College for two years as a Junior Fellow. Then he came back to Oxford to serve as Director of Music at Brasenose, while studying for a DPhil in British organ history (which he was awarded last term).
Nicholas will combine his duties as Director of Music at Harris Manchester College and organist to our Chapel Society with his part-time post of choir master at St Giles's Church in the city centre. We look forward to getting to know him and hearing him play the wonderful organ in the college chapel.
CIVIL PARTNERSHIPS: SUCCESS!
,
At the Annual Meetings of the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches in 2008,Gavin Lloyd, speaking on behalf of our Chapel Society, proposed the following motion.
That this General Assembly, mindful of the need for marriages and civil partnerships to be placed on an equal footing, and the need for full compliance with the spirit of the Human Rights Act, resolves that relevant legislation should be introduced so as to permit ceremonies creating civil partnerships to be performed in any place of worship or other premises licensed for the celebration of marriage, with the agreement of the celebrant.
The motion was debated and duly adopted. Since then, representatives of the General Assembly - most notably the current Chief Officer, Derek McAuley - have been lobbying for a change in the law. Finally, the right of same-sex couples to enter formally into civil partnerships in religious premises (at the discretion of the celebrant) in England and Wales came into force on 5 December 2011.
Writing in the January 2012 issue of The Unitarian, Derek wrote: "Rarely can British Unitarians claim to have directly influenced Parliament to bring about changes in the law. But we can now be proud of one achievement in promoting a more inclusive society … It is likely that the media coverage given to our campaign far exceeds that of our denomination on any other issue in recent times. There were several references to our support in the media, including The Guardian print and online versions, and a large number of religious and Lesbian and Gay websites, and local radio. I have worked closely on this issue with the Recording Clerk of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) and the Chief Rabbi of the Liberal Jewish community, and we hope to do more together on other issues of common interest. … We managed to achieve media coverage because we had a clear, timely, and unique message on an issue of public policy that was directly relevant to us. But the publicity was a bonus; what is important is that we stood for what is right, and as part of a wider coalition we won through in the end."
When we put forward our motion to the General Assembly four years ago, few (if any) members of our congregation really expected to see a result so quickly. Derek McAuley is to be congratulated on his quiet and courteous persistence in pursuing this matter.
"I am certain of nothing but the holiness of the heart's affections." — John Keats
ONE WITH ALL LIFE
One with all life,
the song reverberating in the chapel,
kindling the flames of love on the altar,
opening my heart to the beauty of love,
the dream of communion,
the pathos of the human condition.
Light filled everything,
liquid light rising like a warm tide
in the Presence.
The presence that drew near
to hear the singing:
the eternal song of life.
Yvonne Aburrow was inspired to write this poem in response to a Buddhist chant sung by Joan Young during a choir-led service on the theme of Love and Friendship on Sunday 19th February. It was a great service, drawing on a wide range of sources, including a poem by Maya Angelou, lyrics by James Taylor, and songs from the musicalOliver!, sung with gusto by the choir and the congregation. Who says that our congregation is just a bunch of intellectuals? It's not true!