Pew Sheet – 11th April 2021

The Rector writes ‘By the time you are reading this, our annual general vestry meeting , the ‘Easter Vestry’ will have taken place, this year by Zoom ! I will be publishing the names of those elected to office in our parish next week but today I’d like to thank all of those who give their time to the Select Vestry and do the many thankless jobs that have to be done – Wardens, Treasurer, Secretary, Health & Safety and so on. I always point out that I am the ONLY paid person in the team! Everyone else is a volunteer and is giving their time to our parish out of the goodness of their hearts! So do take time to thank them when you come across them as without them we just wouldn’t be able to function as a parish’

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Music Notes 11-04-2021

Hymns:

250     All the hail the power of Jesu’s name

425     Jesus, thou joy of loving hearts

263     Crown him with many crowns

Our opening hymn today is sung to a melody called ‘Miles Lane’. It was written by an eighteenth – century organist named William Shrubsole (1760-1806). Originally from Canterbury, he was appointed organist at Bangor Cathedral in 1782. He was summarily dismissed a year later for associating with a known dissenter and attending non-conformist religious gatherings. He moved to London and found work as organist at a Methodist chapel sponsored by the Countess of Huntingdon who was an early high-profile follower of Methodism.

‘Miles Lane’ is a ‘repeating’ tune, which is a style of West Gallery music in which the message of the hymn is underlined by repeating the last line of the verses. I have written about West Gallery music in an earlier edition of Music Notes in connection with the tune ‘Lyngham’.

The writer of the verse was Edward Perronet who was a lifelong friend and supporter of William Shrubsole. He described him as follows in his will:

“Lastly, in consideration of his respect for me, his services to me, and that fine and disinterested affection he has ever shown me from our first acquaintance; even when a proverb of reproach cast off by all my relations disinherited me unjustly and left to sink or swim…..”

(Musical Times, April 1902).

Now there’s a true friend!

Bébhinn 087 228 5965

bebhinnmuire@gmail.com

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Random Notes CCCLXXV

Cork has had, in it’s history, many interesting characters over the years. Although not famous in their own right, these people added to the dry wit of the city and the very individual Cork personality.

In her book “The Road to Glenanore”, M Jesse Hoare, describes one such individual that she encountered on railway trips to Carrigrohane Castle in the early 1930’s.

“Several times, when close to the castle, a mad old woman appeared, cursing and screaming. As the train slowed at this point due to a bend, she managed to dance alongside, using Biblical phrases interspersed with hair-raising language. Later, she used to terrorise me on the way to school. The windows of her small cottage were completely covered with holy pictures, behind which she lurked ready to ambush any stray pedestrian. Once she deeply shocked some visitors to the castle by lifting her many skirts waist-high, to advertise her shortage of underclothes.”

Another character was Harry Badger. In the 1820’s, Harry frequented the South Main Street area near the old City Courthouse. The locals constantly played tricks on him. He had no taste buds and would eat or drink anything that came his way. Once, a few lads invited him to join them for a pint in the local watering hole. A mouse was dropped into his pint unknown to the recipient. Harry downed the pint in one whip, without even drawing breath. Everyone looked at Harry waiting for a reaction, but all Harry did was give a loud burp, wipe his face on his sleeve and head for the door, smiling. He wore a brass helmet on his head which was frequently knocked off by local rascals. To try to prevent this, he placed a number of iron spikes on the helmet. He wore a red coat with a pair of bright yellow breeches, and was a remarkable sight. In later years some locals presented him with a large pot of tripe and drisheen. Instead of actual tripe, they boiled a pair of gentlemens’ breeches with onions and milk and plenty of salt and pepper for seasoning. He spent two days in a hayloft consuming the steaming pot. Sadly, this led to his demise, much to the mourning of the locals.

     RCE