January 3, 2016

A Quiet Start

Although New Year’s Eve was a bit hectic – breakfast with one friend, a lunch of oysters and Bloody Mary’s and oysters with another, dinner with others and finally champagne and a warm fire with still more – the days after it have been quiet and contemplative. In that spirit, literally, I stopped by a local church, right around the corner from the Book Thing where I hear their bells chiming on the quarter hours. I’d just met the minister at a party over the holidays, and had heard that the church was looking exceptionally beautiful for Christmas.St Johns in the Village (2)

I knew the church, St. Johns in the Village, also known as St. Johns Huntingdon, was modeled on an English Church, and I read that they were having an Evensong service at 4:00 p.m., so I headed over. That’s such a great time of day to take photographs – the sun’s rays are long and golden, and everything just glows.St Johns in the Village (19)

I took a few moments to walk around and admire the Christmas decorations outside, including a pot that still had some tiny pansies in it,St Johns in the Village (10)

and check out some of the details of the building, which dates from the 1850s.St Johns in the Village (26)St Johns in the Village (15)As I wandered around, the churchwarden arrived and we went inside. The church was beautiful and as I’d heard, wonderfully decorated, but in a very simple style. Garlands of live greenery criss-crossed the church, beginning in the entry-way.St Johns in the Village (27)St Johns in the Village (31)

The late afternoon light flooded the church, lighing all of the gorgeous old stained glass windows.St Johns in the Village (38)St Johns in the Village (51)St Johns in the Village (37)

The churchwarden disappeared to put on his vestments, and I waited for other parishoners to arrive for Evensong, but alas, none did, and it was just the two of us. He lit candles and gave me the prayer-book, and we said the Evensong service together, alternating verses of the 18th Psalm, reciting the Lord’s Prayer in unison and quietly contemplating the new year.

After the service was completed, he asked if I’d like to see the rest of the church, and took me in the back to see the vestments, many of which date back decades,St Johns in the Village (52)St Johns in the Village (53)and are kept in special drawers so most of them don’t have the stress of hanging in a closet.St Johns in the Village (56)

We wandered around chatting about mutual interests – books and Baltimore history – as he talked about the history of the building.St Johns in the Village (58)St Johns in the Village (60)

and the details, including these Minton tiles from England, St Johns in the Village (61)

and the tiled floor.St Johns in the Village (63)

As we headed out, locking doors, shutting off lights, setting the alarm, St Johns in the Village (70)St Johns in the Village (72)

I once again realized that Baltimore is indeed a city of treasures, both the buildings St Johns in the Village (75)and the people!St Johns in the Village (73)

Many thanks to Mr. Bard Bruce Wickkiser, Rector's Churchwarden, for sharing this special afternoon visit with me and for making me feel welcome at St. Johns in the Village.

I hope that your new year is happy, healthy and most of all, fun!

23 comments:

  1. happy new year Meg!

    Gosh it really does look like the UK too.

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    1. Happy New Year!

      I love this church because it is so English. The bells there that chime on the quarter hour can reduce me to tears!

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    2. It is my goal in life to live close enough to a church to hear the bells. [Maybe right across from a bakery, too. ;-)]

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    3. to; mamacita, I am a member of this church, and am friends with Bard. It is SO LOVELY during a service, and none more so than a feast day! You will have to move over this way,, there is a bakery right across the street!! Biggest donuts too. Please let me or any of us know if you would like to be shown around, or advice for a service with our choir singing. One of the last paid, professional choirs in Baltimore - very very UK!

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  2. Twelve days of Christmas- the tree remains up though Epiphany. Thank you for sharing your visit to St. Johns in the Village. I have never heard the term Church warden before. Meg You're the Best.

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    1. They're doing an Epiphany ceremony and then taking down the decorations.

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    2. What beautiful images! and the warden looks so dapper.

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  3. what a gorgeous building -right near the bookthing? I never noticed it!

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    1. You probably come from the Charles Street side, so don't see this building on Greenmount Avenue. It's less than a block away.

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  4. What a magical moment in your life. A great gift I am sure you will never forget. Happy New Year!

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  5. Utterly charming. Do they do traditional Sunday services?

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    1. They have a 10:30 a.m. service on Sundays and a 7:30 a.m. matins service every day.

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    2. to Googie - yes we do, it's so lovely. A rather old fashioned (Rite One) service that is utterly dignified, and then a really fun coffee hour in our little sun room where everyone opens up and hugs hellos. Father Parker is the Rector of our church, and is the very reason we have the beautiful things we do. Please come by, and while Easter is spectacular, there is probably a more beautiful series of services during Holy Week, most of all Maundy Thursday.. Solemn. Dignified, Subdued, Breathtaking. The Choir sings Motets, and the most beautiful, somewhat haunting music during this week. my email is brad@bradweesnerdesign.com if you would like any information or advice. I have served on our Altar Guild for years, and recently came off my time as the Sacristan at St. John's too. I get to handle and take care of all the beautiful things!

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  6. You're a treasure too, Meg. May 2016 bring you all good things!

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  7. Oh my gosh, what a treasure! Beautiful! Happy New Year, Meg!! xoxo

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    1. Loi and Meg, I am an interior designer, and have been to your store in Bethesda many times.. please come by and let me show you around. Meg.. how nice to see this post - how someone like you sees our church with "fresh eyes". Would love to welcome you both, and show you around. Bard is a friend, everyone there is a friend.. smaller congregation, very warm and welcoming. My email is brad@bradweesnerdesign.com if you would like to connect. Thanks again Meg.

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  8. Such a beautiful church. What a peaceful place for worship and reflection. Thank you for sharing the history and details. Happy New Year, Meg!

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  9. You just took me down memory lane. When I was a child, my family and I attended St. John's. That was a very long time ago. The church still looks the same.

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