A Priory Friday

‘Mary’s boy-child Jesus Christ was born on Christmas Day’
sang out the handbell-ringers’ bells - music only, obviously. The words joined the tinkle-icious, crystal sound of the handbells in the minds of those within earshot.
It’s called ‘auditory imagery’ apparently.

Whatever it’s called, the delicate sound of the handbells as the team practiced for the upcoming Christmas Priory Super Saturday* filled a busy Priory Church. Beside the Choir Vestry, the Curate was demonstrating artistic prowess in primer-undercoat (white) as former staging is repurposed as part of the ‘Join the Christmas Story’ Nativity - much more on that to come.

Volunteers folded the weekly sheets…Dylan the Custos was performing one of the core roles of a Custos - shifting chairs, whilst simultaneously guiding enquiring visitors to the candle stand to pray. Other visitors stood in awe on the sanctuary steps, heads tilted upwards as they gazed on the great East Window.

One of the team from the Festival of Stories for Children, which has been filling the church with enthusiastic and excited youngsters during the week, was testing the AV screens. Tomorrow the team from Aardman animation will be coming to delight audiences with character-building workshops. Plasticene characters, that is.

And as the handbell team carefully put away the shining bells into their carry cases, and the Priory clock chimed five, so the next scene in Priory life began to unfold. The Choir Librarian arrived to sort out the music ready for Choir Practice - Juniors at six, everyone else at seven, preparing for Choral Evensong on Sunday at 6.30.

Just another ordinary extraordinary Friday in the life of God’s Living Church at Great Malvern Priory

*22nd November 10-6, free refreshments (including cake!), music, crafts, an opportunity to ‘Join the Christmas Story’ and see the first-ever Great Malvern Priory Christmas Tree Festival. It’s part of the switching-on of the Christmas Lights in Malvern.