Retrospective from Canterbury:

Forty weary but exhilarated pilgrims have returned from Canterbury Cathedral to St. Peter's - changed and blessed by our visit to the 'Mother Church' and the cradle of Christianity in Britain. Snatches of glorious music and "glimpses of heavenly beauty" fill our heads and hearts.

During the eight days of our stay we sang daily Evensong in the Great Quire (yes, they still spell it that way), sang for the Principal Eucharist on Sunday morning in the Nave, and somehow found time for daily excursions to historical sites, museums, homes and gardens.

Because we were in residence at the cathedral (as opposed to a tour of many churches), we all came to feel like members of the cathedral community. The clergy, the staff and the congregation (and there are many regular daily attendees in addition to the throngs of pilgrims and tourists) could not have been more gracious and welcoming, often commenting on the music or offering a variety of support. By the end of the week, we had even learned to bow as one - not a small achievement!

A special gift to the singers was the presence of ten parishioners and family members who attended all the services and helped in countless ways - recording (thank you, Andrew, Liam, Ian, and Fionn), photographing (thanks to all, especially Andrew), turning pages and pulling stops for Bruce (thanks to Rachel, Ellie, and Fionn) and especially offering moral support. It was a thrill to have Steve Mark and Lynn Hoyt present the elements at the Sunday Eucharist. Our mascot for the whole trip was dear Peggy Oneil, who set the brisk pace and example for the younger folks. Our tour leaders Ann and Clive are now honorary members of the St. Peter's gang and we will go wherever they lead!

Our musicians were of course the backbone of the trip and the singing of our choirs has never been more glorious - even with the challenges of jetlag, the joining of three choirs who don't usually perform together, a space where you can't hear your neighbors, the organ or yourself, and an acoustic with formidable sound delay. They even handled the unexpected with grace: tenor Dan Houston stepped up as a wonderful cantor for the Friday service music when the regular staff clergy was not available. Kudos to organist Bruce Glenny, who mastered the challenges so quickly to play brilliantly, and to our guest singer-organists-composers, John Wiggins, Gary Gress, David Furniss and Tad Cavuoti.

We all had our favorite moments. My own included a magical work session in the choir loft on our first night, with only the light from the organ and the ambient light from outside illuminating the delicate roof tracery and the great West Window. And on Sunday morning, we all felt our hair rise as we processed down the Dean's Steps, into the Benedictine cloister along the path that Archbishop Thomas a Beckett went to his death, and into the great gothic nave (the "new" part of this ancient building). And then we had to sing!

We will feel privileged forever to have been part of worship at Canterbury. The facts of history have been transformed into a living story of faith and witness of these brave early Christians. We pray that they inspire our own transformation to follow their example here at St. Peter's - to worship, to sing, and spread the good news without counting the cost.

Martha Johnson