We returned to Comrie this year for our summer picnic, and again enjoyed the hospitality of St Serf’s Episcopal Church. On our arrival we were welcomed by the Rector, Rev Paddy Allen, and by Kate Sainsbury, their Lay Reader. After an informal shared lunch we walked the labyrinth laid out in the grass of St Serf’s glebe land. This is of particular interest, as we are planning a labyrinth event at St John’s later this year.
After a short circular walk through the beautiful scenery of Glen Lednock it was time for afternoon tea and our goodbyes.
The church building was full for the last of our three summer organ recitals, by local musician Stephen Clay. Stephen first started his organ studies at Glenalmond College and later read Music at Durham University, where he held Organ Scholarships successively at Hatfield and University Colleges. He has since played at many of the major English cathedrals as well as playing regularly in locations around Perthshire and Angus.
After a welcoming introduction by our rector, Rev Graham Taylor, Stephen started his recital with Baroque music, playing pieces by Buxtehude and J S Bach. Three preludes on British hymn tunes were followed by a Toccata by Mathias. He concluded with music by the French composers Boellmann and Vierne and, as a glorious finale, the Toccata by Widor.
Our Director of Music, Alison Grant, thanked Stephen for his work and expressed our best wishes for Stephen’s forthcoming move to Suffolk, where he will be Head of Music at Culford Preparatory School.
Sunshine at the Rectory Garden Party
A welcoming glass of prosecco greeted people as they arrived at the rectory garden party, followed by dainty sandwiches, scones and strawberries. Children played on the lawn and there were many lively conversations, as well as a produce stall, a treasure hunt and the chance to buy tickets for our summer raffle. Unfortunately our prayers for good weather only gave us two hours of sunshine, but we were all able to take cover during the short but heavy thundery shower. Once the clouds had passed the sun shone on us again. Many thanks to all who helped organise this great event.
Strawberries are traditional
More photos can be seen on our Facebook page.
Andrew Forbes at the organ
It was a great privilege to welcome Andrew Forbes to St John’s for the second in our series of summer organ recitals. Andrew is the Director of Music of Glasgow Cathedral and the winner of the 2014 Northern Ireland International Organ Competition. Some years back he played the previous pipe organ in our church, and more recently he has played that same organ after its installation in its new home, a church in Edinburgh.
For this recital he chose a programme which would demonstrate all the capabilities of our new organ, emphasising that a good digital organ is certainly not inferior to a pipe organ. The ‘Suite Gothique’ by Leon Boellemann provided a good introduction to its different moods. This was followed by Set 2 of the Psalm Preludes by Herbert Howells (De profundis clamavi ad te, Domine) and a Leipzig Prelude by J.S.Bach (An Wasserflussen Babylon). Finally he played three movements (Mars, Venus and Jupiter) from ‘The Planets’ by Gustav Holst, transcribed for the organ by Arthur Wills.
Our Director of Music and our Rector welcome Andrew Forbes
This was a really exciting recital and was enjoyed by all present. Revd. Graham Taylor, our rector, was joined by our Director of Music, Alison Grant, in welcoming Andrew and expressing the thanks of all present at the close of the recital.
Flowers at our patronal festival
We celebrated our Patronal Festival on 28th June 2015. Thanks to a lot of hard work the day before, the church was filled with white and golden flowers which enhanced our worship.
Several members of the congregation had joined the choir for a music workshop the previous weekend when they learned the anthem ‘Cantate Domino’ by Dave and Jean Perry. It was good to have additional voices singing with the choir, and we hope this will be repeated for special occasions in the future. The anthem was one that members of the choir had sung in Glasgow recently at the Triennial Festival held by the Royal School of Church Music.
An augmented choir for our patronal festival
After our morning Eucharist we enjoyed a bring and share lunch in the Threshold Centre next to the church. Thanks to all who brought food, prepared tables, served and helped clear up.
Lunch after our patronal festival
Our Patronal Festival marks the start of our summer season when there will be no services of Matins, Alive For Christ or Evensong. On the first Sunday of July and August there will be a Sung Eucharist at 10.30 am.
Margaret Broad and Graham Taylor at the first organ recital of summer 2015
The first of our summer organ recitals was on 19th June, with Margaret Broad at the organ. Margaret is currently the organist at St Matthew’s Kirk in Perth; prior to that she was the organist and Director of Music here at St John’s and she has an extensive record as a church musician working in Glasgow, Southampton and Yorkshire.
She chose and delivered a varied programme of music including pieces by Rawsthorne, J S Bach, Mendelssohn and Haydn. Many of us particularly enjoyed ‘Dance with the saints’ by Colin Mawby.
Following the recital there were refreshments in the Threshold.
Our next organ recital is on 17th July at 7.30pm when Andrew Forbes will be playing.
St John the Baptist and Christ, from our East Window
In common with two other churches of other denominations in Perth, our patron saint is St John the Baptist. We will celebrate our Patronal Festival on Sunday 28th June at 10.30 am with a Sung Eucharist, followed by a bring and share lunch.
On Saturday 20th June the congregation is invited to a musical workshop at 10.30 am, an opportunity to learn their part in the anthem we will all sing together at the Patronal Festival service.
Agnus Dei. the symbol of St John the Baptist, carved on our main altar
Towards the end of May St John’s collaborated with Giraffe Trading, Perth’s first community interest company, to raise funds for improvements to the church garden grounds. Giraffe is a not-for-profit social enterprise which supports people with mental ill-health, disabilities and other disadvantages in the workplace. Giraffe maintains St John’s garden of rest as well as providing planted containers outside the church, so a combined coffee morning and plant sale was an ideal fund-raising event, selling plants raised by jobseekers in Giraffe’s Ladeside centre. More photos can be seen on the church’s Facebook page.
A group of ten walkers set out from the car park by the old kirk in Glen Artney to follow the footpath to Comrie along the Water of Ruchil. Our prayers for good weather had been answered, and we enjoyed glorious sunshine nearly all the way.
After one break for mid-morning tea or coffee and another for lunch we arrived at the tea rooms just outside Comrie in time for mid-afternoon tea and cake. We all enjoyed this walk which was new to most of us.
The Water of Ruchil in May sunshine
More photos can be seen on our Facebook page.
The latest issue of Quest is now available to download as a PDF.
In this issue:
- Photos from Maundy Thursday and Easter Sunday
- Autumn 2015 Project
- Our Poster for the Gathering
