General Sir Charles Redmond Watt, “Reddy” to his friends, was given a pair of socks for Christmas. General Sir Nick Carter got golf balls.
Both attended Choral Matins at the Chapel of the Royal Hospital yesterday; the former in uniform, the latter in suit and Royal Green Jackets tie. The Wren chapel was packed with a congregation of all ages. The choir, fortified by a glass of champagne before the Service, was on top form. They sang Hodie Christus Natus Est (Today Christ is Born), by Francis Poulenc, The Lamb, by John Tavener, and Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day, by John Gardner. The congregation sang O Come, All Ye Faithful, Away in a Manger, Good King Wenceslas, God Rest You Merry Gentlemen and the National Anthem (first verse only). The Organ Voluntary was Sleigh Ride. The Collect of the Royal Hospital is as much a history lesson as a prayer.
O God, who by the overshadowing of an oak didst preserve our Royal Founder from the hand of his enemies and so lead him to an earthly throne, grant thy heavenly protection we beseech thee, to thy servants in this Royal Hospital, that continuing in thy love, they may give thee true and loyal service and so enduring to the end enter at the last into thine eternal kingdom in glory, through the merits of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour, Amen.
It was bracingly muscular, secular Anglicanism, not really something that would appeal to those seeking to contemplate the birth of Christ and its meaning in our lives. It was all over in fifty minutes. I know what the Generals got for Christmas because after the sermon the chaplain asked members of the congregation. He picked on Generals, Royal Hospital staff and children, to my relief. Lunch afterwards at Le Colombier was self-indulgent and lasted for three hours.
Glad to see Sir Christopher W saluted on Wren’s Day. Recent sightings seem to point to its fading away in Ireland but hope I’m wrong. Activity here is reading annual outpouring of misinformation on origins of Boxing Day in various newspapers. On the good news front the American navy is
Abolishing bread and water punishment on ships at sea at last.
Sounds like a day well spent. One hopes there was a nap in there, somewhere. A nice program of music. I never used to like the Gardner, but now I find it has many associations with memories of family and friends, and I look forward to hearing it. Merry Christmas
I remember going there with you many years ago one Sunday morning (might have been an Easter Sunday) while N & R read the Sunday rags. The sound of the choir was lachrymal – in a good sense.