The months of March and April 2025 cover the most important period in the Church’s year. Starting on Ash Wednesday and moving through Lent to Easter Day on which we celebrated the Resurrection of Jesus, the very corner stone of the Christian faith. Glancing at the pages of my diary I see a lot of ink and not many gaps. It is so important to keep this season and through it deepen our knowledge and understanding of the Faith and our relationship with God. The diocesan Lent course encouraged serious consideration of the Nicene Creed, who Jesus is and why it matters. The meetings held via zoom provided the opportunity for the various chaplaincies up and down the Riviera to engage and learn from one another. Canon Thomas was with us on Mothering Sunday at the mid – way point and before we moved into Holy Week. Services were held on Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday combining prayer, the Holy Gospel account of Jesus’ Passion and Crucifixion, supported and uplifted by sacred music of the highest order as an offering to God. Easter Day began with the Dawn Service and lighting of the Paschal candle, followed by the celebration of Holy Communion at 8.00 am and 10.30. In spite of many people being away, the Church was full, and we must thank God for his faithfulness. As we move forward as an Easter people, I pray God that will continue to bless the Church and find ways in which we can all serve the Gospel of Jesus in the Principality with Faith in God, Hope in the Resurrection of Jesus and , Love in action.
Alleluia Christ is Risen, he is risen indeed, Alleluia! Fr Hugh
Evensong for the Annunciation
In 36 years of ordained ministry I cannot recall the number of times I have said to innumerable people, “Public worship is not entertainment.” How blessed we are though at St Paul’s to be able to offer God our prayer and praise through the skill and artistry of so many gifted musicians. Evensong on the 26th kept the Feast of the Annunciation – pivotal in our belief in Jesus and the mission of the Church…
Sir Stelios’ speech at St Paul’s
On March 28th, 2025, St Paul’s had the honour of welcoming Sir Stelios to the English Library. A large and engaged audience gathered for the event, where Sir Stelios shared insights about his professional journey, the mission of his foundation, and the impactful projects it supports.
During the session, attendees had the opportunity to ask Sir Stelios a range of questions about his work and his vision for philanthropy…
Canon Huw Thomas Mothering Sunday
We were delighted to welcome Canon Huw Thomas at St Paul’s on Mothering Sunday. The subject of Huw’s sermon was “Mother Church” and he related this both to the blesséd Virgin and his time in overseas work for the Anglican Communion in Ethiopia, Pakistan, Egypt and Algeria…
Chartreuse de Selignac
In April, I did a one week retreat at the Chartreuse de Selignac, a former Carthusian monastery, about 800 years old, located between Lyon and Geneva. The Carthusian Order is recognised as being the strictest of monastic orders. They are hermit monks, who spend almost their entire lives in solitude and silence, in their hermitages. It was in one of these hermitages that I was to spend my one week retreat at Selignac…
Presentation of the Union Flag
On Monday 31st March, a Union Flag, funded by Mr Nicholas Edmiston, was presented to the Maison de France by St Paul’s Church on behalf of the British population of Monaco.
The idea originated from the recesses of the Chaplain’s mind following a gathering at the Maison de France on Liberation Day back in May.
The historic presentation and expression of Entente Cordiale was witnessed by a gathering of over fifty people representing various organs within the Principality, along with members of the Church Council…
Bears to Africa with Mission En France
Mission En France is a humanitarian charity which in 2023 dedicated 99.19% of its funds to humanitarian efforts in the field. This is possible thanks to the support received from the Government of the Principality of Monaco and the support of its private patrons…
Music Matters – By Errol Girdlestone
Church acoustics
People may wonder why in church we sometimes place the choir in front of the Lady Chapel, rather than remaining up in the organ gallery. No, it’s not a show-off act, but rather a question of acoustics and practicalities. Quite apart from the fact that fitting in eight singers upstairs, plus a group of bow-wielding string players armed with instruments and music stands is physically impossible, there is the issue of acoustics.
A quartet is the maximum number of trained voices our gallery will support acoustically without inflicting a hard resonance on the ears of the congregation below, largely owing to the proximity of the ceiling. Ideally, a choir situated in a gallery at the back of a church requires at least as much space above as below, principally for acoustical reasons.
Look at Bach’s church of St. Thomas, Leipzig :-
There you can see the gallery sits roughly halfway up to where the arched ceiling begins its taper, leaving ample space for the sound to resonate and acquire a warm halo before reaching ground level. And, looking at the second picture, you will see just how much space there is up there – four rows of choir, a whole orchestra, and room for the conductor to wave his arms around comfortably. Dimensions are as significant as proportions.
As far as having singers facing the congregation, as opposed to being invisible, there are arguments to be had on both sides. Visual contact between the two parties can greatly enhance communication and immediacy. On the other hand, music coming down from the clouds above adds to the sense of mystery. Personally, I can see advantages from both aspects, though if pushed would probably plump for visual communication.
Just to conclude, those of you who attend our annual Messiah will know we usually have about 30 singers, plus a similar number of musicians, making just under 60 performers in all. The choir is placed in the chancel, the soloists on the chancel steps, and the orchestra in the nave, directly in front of them. The balance and acoustic in these conditions can scarcely be bettered.
Interesting. All goes to prove that splendour is not the be-all and end-all of ecclesiastical architecture, as is amply demonstrated by the acoustics of Renaissance churches, chapels, and cathedrals, which tend to resonate perfectly for liturgical music.
Crossword N°9 – by Patricia Cerrone
This time our puzzle is ideal for those who are keen on anagrams, as there are a few more than usual here. Any word or phrase suggesting a change, mixture or preparation could be an indication in such a clue. Remember, too, to look out for clues where the SOUND of a letter is suggested (see crossword N°5 last July) e.g. the word “why” could stand for the letter “Y”.
A rather sneaky trick, which is quite often used, is using a particular word in a different grammatical sense. Look at N°23 across – the first word of the clue presents itself as a verb, however you’ll find that it represents a noun in the answer.
Lastly, occasionally you are expected to use just the alternate letters of a word or phrase. Consider this clue “Walks – chain keeps losing odd bits (5)”. WALKS = definition; LOSING ODD BITS = indication to eliminate alternate letters from the previous word or phrase (CHAIN KEEPS). So the answer is HIKES.
Patricia Cerrone
ACROSS
1. + 6. Universal supplication recited during the Eucharist (3,5,6)
9. Convey cheeky fellow’s craftiness (6)
10. Young server – we’re told to reform the lad (5,3)
11. Recipient of St Paul’s letters in Eastern Turkey (8)
12. Treat to round of lager before start of entertainment (6)
13. Having riotous fun with crazy Les, amid shouts of joy (12)
16. Remove sanctity of deacon preoccupied with secret (12)
19. Compilation of liturgical texts young lady gave to a trainee (6)
21. Old York – as the Romans knew it (8)
23. Spread pâté dean prepared (8)
24. Almost at end of run, in good time (6)
25. Mistiness, I expect, will obscure monster (6)
26. Roughly timed Noah’s boat arriving at shoreline (8)
DOWN
2. Oddly they amend all of book used when singing (6)
3. Buddhist priest goes after novice imitating animal (5)
4. In nervous state sit nearer to old family servants (9)
5. Composer of the hymn tune “All For Jesus” (7)
6. The Apostle also known as Cephas (5)
7. Orange car somehow indicates such pomposity (9)
8. Return of pox in disturbed males detected in outer skin cells (8)
13. Enclosed area is in middle of lectors milling around (9)
14. Plain, unloved when lacking hint of nostalgia (9)
15. Set aside to put in someone’s name (8)
17. Calm, benevolent pope (7)
18. Butler swaps tea, we hear, for bit of gin and blows his horn! (6)
20. Permission to go away (5)
22. Warning sound hidden in medieval armour (5)
Answers to Clarion Crossword N°8
ACROSS – 1. CELTIC GODS 6. CLAD 9. MAGNIFICAT 10. ADAM 12. UTES 13. ADORATION 15. SERENADE 16. SCREEN 18. ROSARY 20. EMMANUEL 23. LAMBSWOOL 24. CULL 26. GURU 27. DEERHOUNDS 28. REAP 29. GODDESS SIF
DOWN – 1. CAMP 2. LEGATOR 3. IDIOSYNCRANSY 4. GRIMALDI 5. DEACON 7. LUDDITE 8. DOMINANTLY 11. PASCHAL CROSS 14. ASTROLOGER 17. IMPLORED 19. SAMARIA 21.UPLANDS 22. BOLERO 25. USCF
