Once I was a clever boy learning the arts of Oxford... is a quotation from the verses written by Bishop Richard Fleming (c.1385-1431) for his tomb in Lincoln Cathedral. Fleming, the founder of Lincoln College in Oxford, is the subject of my research for a D. Phil., and, like me, a son of the West Riding. I have remarked in the past that I have a deeply meaningful on-going relationship with a dead fifteenth century bishop... it was Fleming who, in effect, enabled me to come to Oxford and to learn its arts, and for that I am immensely grateful.


Tuesday, 4 October 2011

Celebrating St Frideswide on October 19th


The feast of St Frideswide, patroness of Oxford, falls on Wednesday 19 October.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2588/4025405104_229a632fa1.jpg

St Frideswide
Fourteenth century glass in Christ Church Cathedral

Image: Lawrence Lew OP on Flickriver

The Mass at the Oratory at 6 pm will be followed by Benediction, and the annual opportunity to sing one of the more remarkable examples of English hymnography in her honour - but never mind the words, enjoy the strains of Handel's March from Judas Maccabeus

At 7.30pm the Oxford Ordinariate will have Solemn Evensong & Benediction at Blackfriars, St Giles, Oxford. Choral music from the Anglican tradition will be sung by the Newman Consort and the Preacher will be the Abbot of Downside, the Rt Revd Dom Aidan Bellenger OSB. Refreshments will be provided afterwards.

This service, the second in a series, is an opportunity for the Oxford Ordinariate Group to welcome fellow Catholics, Anglicans and all who are seeking to discern God’s will in their lives.




St Frideswide hides in the woods from the unwelcome advances of Algar of Leicester -
a detail from the 1269 shrine base preserved in Christ Church Cathedral.

Image: Sacred Destinations


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2 comments:

Andrew said...

Get ready to see her Queenly Sway!

5 October 2011 at 14:20
Once I Was A Clever Boy said...

That is from another St Fridewide hymn, composed by Canon Chamberlain for St Thomas'. I will try to type up the Oratory hymn for the spiritual delight of readers.

6 October 2011 at 17:11

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