I am on the Church Cleaning rota from August
Now I am not religious, it's not something "I do" but I am so looking forward to be left alone in the Church with my duster and a tin of polish..
It's not because I have an obsession with cleanliness (take a look at the fluff under our bed and you will realise that I am right on that score)
Its not because I want to have a secret go on the organ when no one is looking (this HAS happened by the way!)
No..the reason that I volunteered is the simple fact that I quite LOVE being inside the Church when it is empty.
A year or two ago, I volunteered to paint some of the Church radiators.It wasn't a big job, it actually took me an hour or so and I was happy to be of some help.......but as it tuned out, I absolutely loved the sense of peace and quiet that I experienced being inside the dark ,silent and cloistered old Church, when no one else was around to clutter up the experience.
I am not an overtly spiritual person....
I can be thoughtful.... certainly
and introspective...well..........always..........
But I am not a deep thinker or someone that needs meditation time !
And so, perhaps..... I have surprised myself that the healing quiet of an empty St Michael's is so appealing
Even with a floor mop in my hand...
 |
| A Victorian sketch of the Church, when it used to be surrounded by trees |
So... you can play the organ!
ReplyDeleteI do love churches too for the same reasons although I haven't been to mass for... for... for quite some times, let's say!
Now I must get back to my meditation!
Ta-ta!
Hugs
Jon
Ooer! Now I'm agog for the blog post where you decide to take the veil... :-)
ReplyDeletealice
there is something about being in an empty church...as a young woman I was blessed to hold a copy of the key to our local united church (now a day care)...I used to go in once in a while when it was empty just to experience that sense of peace and healing.....
ReplyDeleteI understand completely. For me, it is/happens when I am surrounded by trees. I think the "feel" or energy traces all depend on the vicar and the parishioners. You seemed to live in a [mostly] peaceful area and thus a very peaceful feeling church. I'm glad you'll take this time for yourself. The scent of the polish and that lovely old wood would be soothing too.. for me anyway.
ReplyDeletemeggs.xx
polish sniffing eh meggs?
ReplyDeleteHi John, sadly our local chapel, St Faiths, is no more and has just been sold to be 'developed'. My 2 daughters were baptised there and attended Sunday school , I was on the cleaning rota and hubby's did all the maintenance.
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about being in a quiet church and it gave me the chance to see what exactly was kept underneath the alter .....
Jane
*altar!
ReplyDeleteI can understand completely. I love the peace and solitude, I love old churches and to be in one on your own, it's a great feeling of well being somehow, but then I get the same feeling when I am out in nature when there is no one around, like yesterday in one of my favorite parks.
ReplyDeleteIn addition to the whole worship aspect, there's two things about a church that I love: the sense of community, and the sense of serenity that's present when the rest of the community ain't there.
ReplyDeleteOn the subject of dust under beds John - a friend who is not at all houseproud found 32biros under their bed when she moved it to decorate the room!
ReplyDeleteWe all need inner peace and a quiet, solemn place is a great place to find it.
ReplyDeleteTo which particular organ were you referring?
ReplyDeleteI'm on the cleaning rota for our church too. We usually work in pairs. I do actually enjoy it. We do our stint and then get the kettle on for a cup of coffee. I know what you mean about the peace and quiet and I don't think anyone would mind either if you had a tootle on the organ here!
ReplyDeleteYP
ReplyDeleteYOU been watching any carry on films recently?
alice
ReplyDeleteI always liked nun movies!
Dust away to your heart's delight. It is very restorative to change gears. xo
ReplyDeleteI used to let myself into rural churches around 2 in the morning and have a go on the organs. Then one night, I got caught playing the wedding march (badly) by a copper with a frightened vicar behind him.
ReplyDeleteThey let me go, as I had done no harm A few days later, I got a letter from the vicar asking me to be his organist. I declined on the grounds that I was crap.
No reference to 'bums on seats' in this comment.
P.S. - It's as easy as driving a tank - all you have to do is find the pump-switch, then you're off !
ReplyDeleteMowing is that way for hubby and I.
ReplyDeleteGives you time to think.
Good for you to volunteer to do that. :)
I am religious of sorts John (definitely not a judgemental, bible bashing nutter) although these days it's a bit unfashionable to believe in God.
ReplyDeleteWhen you take away the preaching and the formality of religion and are just at peace in a place like a church, it's then that you feel something.
I did wonder if 'buffing up the pews' was a euphemism for something else though John hehe.
gawd chris ... you , YP and no doubt Tom have or will be posting wanking comments
ReplyDeletelol
I will rise above it
PS just read Tom's comments. I'm starting to think he's quietly gay you know.
ReplyDelete'Having a go on the organ at 2 in the morning'...and 'find the pump switch and then you're off'...
All this Palare...
Next thing you know he'll be asking for a bona charver in the cottage. Fantabulosa!
ReplyDeletechris I can feel tom banning you very soon!
ReplyDeletelol
Ha! He can't ban me from your blog John. (Only you can do that)
ReplyDeletePS Please don't...
chris
ReplyDeleteif he bans us ( WHEN PISSED and angry)
we will set up a joint tom stevenson (pseudo) blog
you know one about how we love to buy candsticks and other such shite
candLEsticks!
ReplyDeleteExcellent idea John (isn't he always pissed and angry???)
ReplyDeleteShhh! he's listening hehe...
he's a sweetie!
ReplyDeleteeven when ballistic!
I would hate to be banned as I've become addicted to reading his psychotropic rants about candlesticks...
ReplyDeleteIncredible really, but there it is.
thats the fickle nature of blogs
ReplyDeleteOh, bless you two boys. And the name is STEPHENSON btw. I don't think that there is anything either of you could teach me about wanking, although I am guessing that you could both give me a few tips on how to enhance the experience with amyl-nitrate.
ReplyDeleteNighty-Nitrate!
No one can shush you when you are alone!
ReplyDeletePlease! Let them go! This is fun!
ReplyDeleteThe world is listening! :)
It's always, always, ALWAYS, about how you feel!
ReplyDeleteKnow what you mean, John. I used to clean rectories and churches and there is a quietness and sense of peace in the churches that is hard to find. Being alone in a large old barn does come close. Not as comfy though. Taking a hike alone among giant redwood trees in the coastal redwood forests will give time alone in a church a run for its money.
ReplyDeleteI would love to have a go at a church organ! I've never even thought of it!
ReplyDeleteI have missed you boys ranting on! You shine your organ to your hearts content John & enjoy...xxxxxxxxxx
ReplyDeleteI love OLD churches and Cathedrals. NEW ones give me the creeps.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI love it in the morning when I set up for a funeral service. Everything perfectly arranged, the morning sun streaming through the stained glass. Then the family starts to arrive and ruin everything.
ReplyDeleteI'll admit too that there is something sexy about being alone in such a big venue.
There is a lot to be said for churches. Like you, I'm not a religious person, in fact quite the opposite, but I can appreciate the beauty of a church and the faith of the people who built them.
ReplyDeleteAnd you do have the most wonderful old churches over there!
ReplyDeleteBeing alone in a church is one of my favorite places to be!
ReplyDelete