Honorary Canon

Our friend Hugh was made an honorary canon of the Cathedral of The Isles today. The smallest cathedral in Britain, if not in Europe, is a Butterfield gem on the small island of Cumbrae, in the Firth of Clyde, in the Episcopal Diocese of Argyll and The Isles. On a wild day of bouncing ferries, shafts of sunlight and sudden, battering showers, a choir of 12 singers - including me and Mr PB - assembled to rehearse and sing Evensong, a full choral, Scottish Prayer Book Evensong including as anthem Mendelssohn's "Hear My Prayer". (That's the one with "O for the wings of a dove" in it ...)

The service was glorious. Dean and fellow-blipper Midgedancer (on the left) preached, Bishop Kevin (right in the photo) presided, our old friend Jonathan Cohen (of 'Playaway' , if you're of a certain age) played the organ, and we reconnected with several old friends at the hoolie afterwards. These Cumbrae occasions are perfectly unbelievable and not to be missed.

I sneaked several photos from my place in the choir stalls, but I rather like this one, taken before other clergy and then Hugh's family joined him. A lovely day, if an exhausting one.