Midnight Mass at St Davids Parish Church
Christmas Mass at midnight in the local parish church, St David’s, in Exeter. This is my first visit since the same event last year, but this time with Z and J.
Actually, Z remarked that the interior is ‘gorgeous’ and it certainly is; the church only dates back to about 1894, but it is built in the traditional, classical style, all in some sort of light-coloured, local stone. Limestone on the outside but Bath stone on the inside. Its stone-vaulted, barrel ceiling is superb and large, much larger than you would expect. It has the look of solidity and space, obviously reflecting the wealth of this inner suburb of Exeter and its large houses. It was patronised by the Thornton West family, who also built Streatham House (now Reed Hall in the middle of Exeter University). The old Hele grammar school is the other side of the road, now Exeter College.
According to the St Davids website, John Betjaman thought this church "the finest example of a Victorian church in the South West". It is easy to see why. However, next year I shall try the other church in the St David parish, the church of St Michaels and All Angels, in Dinham, which has a spectacular spire, the highest west of Salisbury it is said. It even has some kestrels in the spire (and an appeal/blackmail that if a certain sum of money is not raised the whole thing will be demolished). In fact, I’ve never been inside St Michael’s so that is next on the agenda. Of course, these days even churches are locked up during the day so the only way in is if you turn up for Sunday service; I am not even an Anglican.
We arrived at about 11.45, expecting a round of Christmas carols and the like, but it is more a hardcore religious service, lots of fanatics in the congregation. The regulars are very polite and accommodating, one senior, non-ecclesiastical man guiding us to some seats at the side. Very decent of him. One young lady nearby is praying deeply; either very troubled or very religious. She is dressed in purple and black with lots of beads and bangles and a nose ring; quite attractive, really.
Sadly, at about 12.15, the minister directs us to page 6 of the service booklet and I note that it has 14 pages; a long way to go. He is about 55 but makes some trendy references to 'Posh and Becks' as well as the war in Iraq and a number of other modern issues, all greeted by a round of laughter and applause in the congregation.
By the time the holy communion starts, it has become too much – especially after six cans of Carlsberg – so it is time to leave. More and more people are queuing up for communion and I can see this taking at least ten minutes even before the final section. Perhaps another young woman along the pew has the right idea when her communion takes the form of a dispensed mint from her Minto box. The hymn Oh Come All Ye Faithful begins as we exit the building. Did we leave too early?
Walking through the graveyard I notice the new flats – Morwenna House – in the corner which is in fact where I may land up living not too long from now. This is really going back to where I started when I was twenty because they are the old offices of EBC Group, now known as Rok. Although I was based in Queens Terrace - I forget which number - I had to deliver the pay packets to what is now Morwenna House (then simply 60 St Davids Hill), a chore which took anything up to thirty minutes. That's including Walnut House, also nearby. Everything has come full circle.
In fact, it goes back further than that! I remember about three days after first arriving in Exeter – in 1984 when I was 17 – I was given directions by Exeter College to their construction faculty which involved passing through this graveyard and church. That’s now twenty one years ago.
St Davids church website:
http://members.lycos.co.uk/stdavids/
posted by Frankie at 12/25/2004 04:39:00 am
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