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.


Monday, 2 February 2026

An Anglican reconstruction of the Sarum liturgy of Candlemas


A few days ago I chanced upon an online video of a reconstruction by Antiquum Documentum of the Mass for Candlemas according to the Use of Sarum.

This was recorded at the church of St Bartholomew the Great Smithfield. The homily from John Mirk’s Festiale, a collection of model sermon texts dating from about 1380, is read by my old Oriel friend, Marcus Walker, who is now the Rector of the church.

Wikipedia has a lengthy account if what little is known of the life of the Augustinian Mirk, a canon of Lilleshall in Shropshire, and of his guides for parish priests, which can be seen at John_Mirk

The video of the service at St Bartholomew’s can be viewed at Mass & Procession According to the Use Of Sarum | Antiquum Documentum at St Bartholomew the Great


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