St. Paul's Cathedral

“How Sweet the Sound!”

A Service to Commemorate John Newton, with music by Christine Collister

One of the benefits of having traveled more than a little bit, is the opportunity to visit other churches, especially some of the world’s greatest cathedrals:
• Notre Dame in Paris
• Cathedral in Cologne, Germany
• Westminster in London
• Salisbury Cathedral in Salisbury, England
• St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome
• Canterbury Cathedral in England
• St. Patrick’s in New York
• Cathedral in Mexico City
• to name a few.

Add to that list, now, St. Paul’s Cathedral (Church of England) in London.

Sunday night past, February 18, 2007, I attended the 6:00pm Evensong Service. The service was titled, “”How Sweet the Sound,’ A Service to Commemorate John Newton, with music by Christine Collister.’”

What a wonderful evening as we sat in this huge cathedral, where by the way, Prince Charles and Princess Diana were married. The forty-five minute service, which included the cathedral’s huge pipe organ for prelude and postlude featured singer-songwriter Christine Collister singing only a cappella some of John Newton’s best-loved hymns and spirituals originally sung by slaves.

Canon Edmund Newell joined her in leading a special service celebrating the life of clergyman, hymn-writer and anti-slavery campaigner John Newton. It marked the 200th anniversary of Newton’s death and the passing of the Act of Parliament that brought to an end the British slave trade.

Newton, a former captain for a ship carrying African slaves, a profession he continued awhile after his recommitment to Christ.

The service was great as each song echoed through the cathedral. Several times we joined in singing. Especially wonderful was Amazing Grace!

On the way to the concert, I stepped out in front of a car was nearly hit!

God was with me!

Love you all!
His for the Journey!
Doug