Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, Ireland

Christ Church Cathedral is one of the two major cathedrals of Ireland, St. Patricks Cathedral being the other one.  We had decided to attend church at St. Patrick’s.  Laura’s grandparents attended there.  When we wandered off Dame Street we found that a market was taking place on the Christ Church grounds. The deer was a treat with its’ little donkey friend.  The collection of live predatory birds was amazing too. The barn owls up close were adorable.
Inside the church proper there was a Garden Tour.  It turned out Lewis Carrol who wrote Alice in Wonderland was an Anglican cleric.  Today we didn’t meet Lewis but we met Alice.  I missed meeting the Jabberwocky.  It was unusual being in this sacred building with so much secular good humour going on. Tourists like ourselves traipsed through.  Children ran here and there. A choir practiced.  I was reminded of the Sophia Hagia, no more a church, no more a mosque but now a secular museum. I told Laura of the secularization of the Anglican church and the increasing reduction of the Christian story to one without miracles.
In Dublin there were so many churches, both Anglican and Catholic that we found many had been converted to other usages. One particular one, called “the Church’ was a night club and the U was spelt in such a way as to give a devil’s tail to one of it’s bars.  Christians transformed the Celtic pagan sites and now the religion of alcohol, drugs and addiction might well be having a bit of it’s way with the old religion of father, son and holy ghost.  The church with its profusion of flying buttresses is a wonder of architecture. Another part of the church had been turned into a museum, one depicting Dublin during the reign of the Vikings.  We didn’t go into that section.
A little while on we came across the old city Dublin Wall.  It’s amazing how just walking about Dublin one is surprised by another bit of history.  Laura and I loved walking about Dublin. It was a sunny blue sky day with a cool sea breeze.  The River Liffy dividing Ireland into North and South served as a marker that kept us from getting lost.  We had walked along Dame Street in one direction then crossed the river again and headed back towards O’Connel Street.  We walked till our feet couldn’t walk any more then sat down and had Bewly’s Coffee.

Crimean Memorial - Christ Church Anglican - Istanbul, Turkey

Mehmet Tetik, my guide, took me to the Anglican church (1582) by the Galata Tower. I was really appreciative of this because I’d not have found it easily myself though the instructions on their web site are excellent.  As a result of early reconnaissance I was able to get back for Sunday Mass. Father Ian presided.  There was a baptism.  I got to look around the church more.  I met up again with Trise I’d met earlier and befriend Deborah.  The coffee after church was a real international meeting. The church had English members, Swiss, Persian, Turkish, American, Iraquis.  Father Ian said how he loved that so many people from so many different places seemed to find their way there. I loved the ducks and chickens that had been rescued. The cats and kittens were a treat too. I went for lunch after with Trise and the group.  Trise is an artist and she draws mostly in the winter because she guides in the summer.  Her friend was looking to set up Recovery centres along the lines of Betty Ford in Turkey. Deborah a New England College teacher, had worked in Istanbul for 9 years before taking her latest position teaching in a private college in Saudi Arabia. She was just back visiting.  The lunch was delicious but the fellowship was the best with such brilliant and vibrant people. I felt very welcomed. (see www.anglicaninstansistanbul.blogspot.com)
 

St. Andrews Cathedral - Singapore

After leaving Changi Prison I took a bus, then the train to St. Andrews Cathedral. There was a great musician in the train station too.
Riding on the train is like riding on a boat. I had a full body work out by the time I reached my destination.  INo wonder I wasn't fat when I couldn't afford a Harley Motorcycle or Miata Sportscar.  Riding buses and trains keeps one slim.  I used to bicycle too. Earlier in the day I sat talking with a local cycling enthusiast at a cafe where his bike was locked to the outside table we sat together at.  
I was blessed to arrive at St. Andrews Cathedral in time to participate in the service. It was a fine service.  After I took pictures of the Cathedral. Now i'm in a coffee with wifi uploading the stories I've written to my blog.
I liked participating in the Anglican service. I lived receiving communion.  I liked kneeling together with others and singing hymns.  There's a lot of comfort in ritual. Here I am half way around the world joining in with others who share this common experience.  It's tradition too.   I'm spiritually moved in community. That's its own special time
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