November 20th was the day for the installation of our now ex-vicar Tess as Canon Missioner at Winchester Cathedral so eight intrepid travellers boarded a minibus at the church and set off for an exciting day out. We arrived in good time for a leisurely lunch in the refectory and a wander round the Christmas Market which is held in the cathedral grounds. It was all very pretty and festive with lots of stalls to look at and buy gifts from. And of course it wouldn’t be a Christmas Market without a good glass (or two!) of Gluwein.
Once inside the cathedral we were able to see an exhibition of stained glass which is on display at the moment and explore the tombs of St Swithun, and Jane Austen who had chosen to be buried there. We also saw the Winchester Round Table which is believed to be the 13C table of King Arthur and one or two of us bravely descended into the crypt to view the ‘Sound II’ sculpture by Sir Anthony Gormley.
By the time we had done all the sightseeing we were ready to take the weight off our feet and were delighted to discover that seats had been reserved for us in the very front pew so we had an uninterrupted view of everything that went on. It is difficult to put into words the grandeur of the building and the solemnity of the service we were witnessing – Tess seemed so tiny against the backdrop in which she performed, the ceiling above her being 24 meters high. This Gothic cathedral is the largest of it’s kind in Northern Europe and has the longest medieval nave in the world at 170 meters, so how daunting it must have been for Tess. As you can imagine the service itself was perfectly uplifting with Tess being dressed by a Canon in her ceremonial robes and then making her promises with the glorious sounds of the choir and the organ filling this ancient building and ringing in our ears.
Afterwards we were entertained superbly at the reception where we were able to greet Tess and her family and enjoy a glass of wine. She was thrilled to see us and so pleased that we had made the time to support her on this special day and she sends all her good wishes and blessings to our whole church community in Black Bourton.
And of course, we hope that Tess’s new role in the Church brings her much fulfilment and happiness on into the future.