Braving freezing temperatures and in a first such gathering of it's kind, more than a thousand British and French supporters of marriage rallied at Trafalgar Square on Sunday 24 March to voice their concern at moves by their respective governments to redefine the concept of marriage. The rally organised by the French movement, La Manif Pour Tousin (March for All) was in response to plans to introduce same-sex 'marriage' which would further allow children to be adopted by homosexual couples in France mirrored one in Paris attended by one and a quarter million supporters of the cause. The rally in France was the second such meeting and it's attendance exceeded the previous turnout of a million on the Champs Elysees.
At Trafalgar Square, led by speakers from both sides of the channel amongst them, the movement's co-ordinator Damien Fournier Montgieux, Alain Craig and Chris Sugden, those gathered chanted ' Vive le Marriage ' while congregated around Nelson's Column, easily out voicing the near one hundred pro-equality supporters whose intent was to disrupt the peaceful proceedings.
As offered by Alain Craig, the intention of the movement was not to dismiss the rights of the same-sex community, instead it was a stand at protecting and preserving the institution of marriage.
As offered by Alain Craig, the intention of the movement was not to dismiss the rights of the same-sex community, instead it was a stand at protecting and preserving the institution of marriage.
The occasion saw supporters across several generations, many of whom were children who while brought by their parents nevertheless gave food for thought with the clear messages on the placards held aloft at the rally. Children too have their rights as nature intended. Strange indeed that the pro-equality protesters failed to recognise this though in these days of an increasingly secular world, it's more a case of ' that which I want ' than that which would be good for others which has been tested by time and should remain.
Canon EOS 1D Mark IV
EF 16-35L, 70-200L
Fuji X-10
If you should not be familiar with the St Matthew Passion and while a lover of classical and choral compositions I too must shamefully admit to having neglected investigation of this most sacred of works, you will like me, at least certainly recognise one of it's more widely-known chorale, " Erkenne Mich, Mein Huter " which is sung approximately midway through the first half of this two-part oratorio set to music by Bach nearly three centuries ago. The work, based on chapters 26 and 27 of the Gospel of St Matthew plays a timely role in helping to usher in Holy Week this year.
The choirs associated with The Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School are no strangers to great choral works, having an illustrated history of performances, recordings and concert tours. Indeed just after the Easter Triduum in the coming week, the Schola Cantorum embark on a tour of Poland which promises to be a splendid musical journey even if it does result in the Easter holidays of the choir members and staff being shortened to two weeks.
For this Tuesday though at St James' Roman Catholic Church Spanish Place, along with soloists Nicholas Mulroy and Nicholas Warden, singing the parts of Matthew and Christ respectively and companied by the Belgravia Chamber Orchestra, the entire ensemble under the direction of Scott Price the Vaughan's music director, the school choir treated the assembled audience to music-making and singing of the finest calibre, bringing the music of Bach to an appreciative audience and on this most appropriate of times on the calendar. CVMS Music as home to the Schola Cantorum, the choir of The Vaughan and the school's own sixth form choir has to be one of the great choir schools of our time. Indeed, any time.
Additional Images
Canon EOS 5D Mark III
Canon EOS 1D Mark IV
EF 16-35L, 24-70L, 70-200L
Last Thursday evening, at the close of a special thanksgiving mass for the election of Pope Francis 1, Archbishop Vincent Nichols met with members of his congregation as they made their way home having attended Westminster Cathedral.
Not for the first time has Archbishop Vincent meet with and warmly greet his flock. Just as on every procession at the conclusion of each mass that he says, the gathered have a feeling of being specially connected with him when he blesses them while walking by.
" Feed My Lambs...... Look after My sheep " ( John 21:16-17)
Man of the people and for the people. I think too someone who himself, is very specially connected.
In the deceptively-warm glow of an afternoon sun in winter, Brother Philip makes a stand for his faith before an inquisitive audience, some of whom came to spectate, others to debate, some to learn and on occasion too, there are those who come to heckle. This after all, is Speakers' Corner.
The knowledgeable know this pitch as the site for these platforms are called, to be that operated by the Catholic Evidence Guild, an association of Catholic volunteers who by speaking at their pitch which incidentally is yards from Tyburn Convent, present compelling witness to their faith as Catholics and offer explanation of the doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church. The Tyburn pitch of the guild which was established in 1918 is the oldest of all pitches bar one at Speakers' Corner, supporting statistical evidence that despite an increasingly-secular society, Roman Catholics in bearing witness still account for the highest percentage of Britain's Christian mass-going population.
Thankfully not all occasions of weekly witness comprise entirely of debates with hecklers since as Brother Henryk shows here, moments of thoughtful joy also make up the experience of an afternoon at the pitch.
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Richard Elkington set up home in a 16th century building at Francis Yard in Chesham. In the ten years that he has been there, it has become home to works by living artists all over the country. The creative flavour of the Drawing Room further encompasses the performing arts since Richard's home is also a venue for musicians.
On December 6, I was privileged to attend the inaugural evening of a new series of events at the Drawing Room, one which brought together musicians and composers giving them the opportunity to explain their style and ideas in music while performing some of their own compositions. While not knowing what to expect, everyone came away from a thoroughly enjoyable evening with a view to returning again as I'm sure will many, once they've discovered the special magic of The Drawing Room. You see, it's Richard's home which feels very much like a home for many who have come and savoured the warmth and generosity of his hospitality. Not a great surprise really since as the written legend on the wall of The Drawing Room suggests, it was created with love from Richard's heart.
The Drawing Room in Chesham More images here
Canon EOS 5D Mark III
EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM
EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM
Gordon Parks would have been 100 today. Born on November 30 1912 his career in photography documented all walks of life with his work seen in publications such as Vogue and Life Magazine. Once referring to his camera as a ' weapon against poverty and racism ' Gordon Park's work ranged from portrayal of life for the poor in Chicago, to the gangs of Harlem with his talent being sought in capturing the changing flavours of fashion coming out of Paris.
Gordon Parks did not confined his efforts to photography for he wrote books and poetry, directed films for television as well as the cinema with two of the latter namely, The Learning Tree and Shaft preserved in the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress. He also composed music and wrote both the music and libretto of Martin, a ballet dedicated to Martin Luther King. Gordon Park's beginnings were humble. Forced to leave home soon after the death of his mother and at the young age of 15, he made his way through life and in order to survive worked in brothels, then as a singer, a semi-professional basketball player and while traveling, took to waiting at tables to pay his way.
Amongst his photographic treasures is one entitled American Gothic, Washington, D.C. it's name inspired by an iconic painting bearing the same title. The photograph portrayed a black woman, Ella Watson, who worked on the cleaning crew of a government building, standing stiffly in front of an American flag which hung on the wall behind her, a broom in one hand and a mop in the background. Gordon Parks had been inspired to create the image after experiencing racism in restaurants and shops.
Despite attitudes during his time, Alexander Liberman the editor of Vogue Magazine hired him to shoot a collection of evening gowns. During this time Parks developed a distinctive style of shooting, that of capturing his models in motion. Returning to document American society following the war, he made a photographic essay on a young Harlem gang leader in 1948 which won him a staff job as a photographer and writer with Life magazine. While producing photographs on subjects ranging from fashion to sports, poverty, and racial segregation he became known for his portraits of Malcolm X, Mohammad Ali and Barbra Streisand.
The poor boy from Fort Scott in Kansas never forgot his roots and it is heartening to learn that a photographic essay dating back to 1961 on a poor Brazilian boy named Flavio da Silva who was dying from bronchial pneumonia and malnutrition brought donations from readers which saved the boy's life and paid for a new home for his family.
Gordon Parks was married three times and succumbed to cancer in 2006. He was survived by his widows and three of his four children. For his work, he received more than twenty honorary doctorates.
The Gordon Parks Foundation November 30 2012
Simple leaves in varying
shape, colour and size. At the height of their prowess, collective masses of tissue and connective
vessels toiling endlessly in selfless endeavour sustaining life. Then the day comes
when spent and the work of a lifetime seemingly complete, they make their graceful descent
with the prospect of providing yet sustenance of a different and more final
kind. Gone are the spring and summer of their days and while neither the vigour of
youth nor freshness of life remain yet today the fall to the ground ensures
a final tribute is paid by the life that they had once sustained. One final
look at beauty, dedication and the wonder of creation amidst an endless strife to find the right words to say thank you.
Goodnight Mum with lots of love from Dad and all of us November 17 2012 81 years and 354 days
Readers of my blog will have noted that on occasion I do drift from the business of photography to take in other matters that offer inspiration to put one's fingers to the keyboard.
It has been a while since I last heard a performance of Faure's Requiem and this video of part of the work by King's College Chapel Choir brought back memories of the first recording I ever bought of the requiem which was by the New Philharmonia Orchestra as they were then called. As with the video, the soprano aria Pie Jesu was performed instead by a boy treble. Just as Robert Chilcott sounded both effective and ' touchingly vulnerable ' on the 1967 vinyl recording, so twenty years later, a young singer once again with King's College has delivered a hauntingly beautiful and moving account that will linger long in my memory.
I hope you'll enjoy this as much as I have
Preparing for an evening of music and readings devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary, the proceeds of which would be used by Aid to the Church in Need for children in Sudan, singers of the Schola Cantorum of the Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School assemble in prayer before their concert last Thursday at the Carmelite Priory in Kensington.
The Schola consisting of boys aged between 11 and 18 performed under the direction of Scott Price, the Director of Music at Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School and provided a programme ranging from plainsong to works dating back to the 16th century by Parsons and Monteverdi, composers of the classical and romantic period such as Bruckner, Grieg, Pergolesi and Rachmaninov and finally to 20th century offerings by Britten, Faure, Taverner and MacMillan.
The evening of music was complemented with readings by the school's chaplain, Fr Dominic Allan.
Images made with
Canon EOS 5D Mark III
EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM
EF 70-200 f/2.8L IS USM More pictures here
I had never thought this was something one could do without invitation nor accreditation. That I had both allowed me access into this most historic building last week but as you may know the Palace of Westminster is open to the public. You can watch debates, the Lords select committee at work and tour the Houses of Parliament. There is airport-style security of course though I can report that it is very friendly. More importantly the Houses of Parliament belong to us, little though we may be aware of it and it really is a mighty great privilege to visit such a grand and historic place. Just ask your member of Parliament to arrange it.
Picture - House of Lords, Committee Room 4
Fujifilm X10
October 18 2012
Palace of Westminster
ACN's ( Aid to the Church in Need ) event for October 2012 began with visit to the Houses of Parliament to address a meeting on the issue of religious freedom. Primary delegates attending on behalf of ACN were Bishop Audo of Syria and Archbishop Kaigama from Nigeria, both of whom addressed peers, MPs and officials from the Houses of Parliament at a meeting in the classic setting of Committee Room No 4 chaired by The Baroness Berridge of the Vale of Catmose
Following introductions by Baroness Berridge and ACN's John Pontifex, Bishop Audo advised the gathering that while the violent crisis in Syria brought hardship and uncertainty to all, Christians were additionally threatened by the breakdown of society and the difficulties particularly for them that this has created.
Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama spoke of the challenges of maintaining and practising the faith in Nigeria where attacks on churches and the faithful occur on a weekly basis. Despite such trying circumstances, Archbishop Kaigama said that the solidarity and friendship of the various agencies abroad provided Catholics and all Christians in Nigeria much encouragement and support in the face of their trials and that it was important for us to continue the good work which help Nigerians to adopt a positive outlook and approach which he likened to lighting a candle which he concluded was better than cursing the darkness.
Later both dignitaries met with the invited guests which included students from the Cardinal Vaughan School in London
Canon EOS 1D Mark IV
EF 24-70 f/2.8L
EF 70-200 f/2.8IS L
October 16 2012
But for a direct
hit on a makeshift media centre used by international journalists during the
shelling of Homs by Syrian forces, Remi Ochlik would have been 29 today.
Born in 1983 in
Thionville in the Lorraine region of northeastern France, Remi’s ambitions of
taking up archaeology were cast aside when his grandfather gifted him with an
Olympus OM-1, one of the iconic cameras from the era of the 35mm film.
Graduating from the Icart Photo School he joined the photographic agency
Wostok, achieving a career breakthrough covering the riots in Haiti in 2004. Through a proposal by an editor of
Paris Match, Remi Ochlik’s images were projected at the Visa pour l’Image International Photojournalism Festival
though not before his pictures had won him the Francois Chalais Award for Young
Reporters.
Founding IP3,
his own photographic agency in 2005, Remi began to cover many political events
not only in his native France but in the Democratic Republic of Congo, again in
Haiti and more recently the Arab Spring revolutions of 2011 and 2012. Remi’s
image of a Libyan rebel fighter won him the first prize at the 2012 World Press
Photo awards.
On
February 22 this year, he and fellow journalist Marie Colvin lost their lives
when working in Syria. It is widely believed that the building they were in was
deliberately targeted. In a career that was so tragically cut short, Remi’s
photographs will live on as a powerful reminder of the conflicts that exist in
our world today as much of his work may be seen in several publications and on
many websites.
Picture - fanpop.com
Time.com
IP3
Those who regularly take in mass at Westminster Cathedral will have noticed two changes to the ordering of the building this weekend. The first and very visible change is that the shrine of St John Southworth, our local matyr who gave up his life in defence of his faith in 1654 had been moved into the nave, the central part of the Cathedral. Following his execution, St John Southworth's remains were taken to Douai ( pronounced Doway ) in France by the then Spanish ambassador for burial and later secreted during the French Revolution as a protective measure. Discovered in 1927, they were transported back to England to be laid to rest in the Chapel of St George and the English Matyrs at the Cathedral.
The shrine of St John Southworth was moved into the nave on June 27 on the occasion of the anniversary of our matyr saint so as to serve as a focus for prayer and as a reminder of the sacrifices made to sustain the faith during the period of the persecution.
The other change to the Cathedral relates to the exhibition of the twelve consecration sconces. While there are twelve of these they are not as centrally located but are placed instead around the wall of the Cathedral. This is designed to mirror the walls of Jerusalem on the foundations of which were inscribed the names of the twelve apostles. Each sconce is shaped like a hand with each hand holding a candle.
The reason for these changes is because this weekend marks the 102nd anniversary of the consecration of the Cathedral. The Solemnity of the Dedication of Westminster Cathedral is of particular significance to all Catholics since this is the day that we are reminded of the purpose of the existence of the Cathedral. It is in addition a day when we give thanks to those who played a part in the history of the Cathedral, those who have indeed contributed to building the spiritual fabric and character of the Cathedral that sees it today as a beacon of Catholics in the country and which establishes it as a spiritual home for many of us as we practice and grow our faith.
Westminster Cathedral in company with some of the great Cathedrals in Europe and around the world enjoys a specific dedication. This dedication is to the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ our Redeemer by whose Blood we are saved. It is right then that this dedication is made each year as we recall, reflect and give thanks for this very special gift of love.
Regular readers of my blog will be aware that I write about Westmister Cathedral with some regularity. This is my 32nd year as a convert in which time I have largely attended mass and served at two churches, the first being St James' Spanish Place where I was received into the faith and the other being St Elizabeth's in Richmond. All who believe will know that faith is a personal experience and while I had attended mass at the Cathedral before and whilst holding it as a very special place to come to, it was not until this past year that I have come to realise that here indeed is my spiritual home. I have never been as at home with my faith as I am today and I believe I owe this to the very special spiritual wonder that exists in and which is the Cathedral itself. I really am very humbled at the joy of being here. Thank you for taking time to read my blog and allowing me to share my faith and this special occasion with you.
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