Rail strikes stop Westminster Abbey services
NewsThe following message is being circulated to all Westminster Abbey volunteers:
Brass on the Grass
The first concert in College Garden was also scheduled for next Wednesday and so has sadly been cancelled. The Tilbury Brass Band were unable to get here. The concerts will carry on from 3rd August, every Wednesday in August. Entry will be from 1200 with the bands starting approx. 1230.
5pm Services
All next week (Mon-Sat) the 5pm service will be Evening Prayer and not Evensong. Our choir are away on holiday and there is no visiting choir able to get to us. Evensong is due to return the following week.
Sorry, but i cannot see the part that says “Owing to rail strikes…” etc ?
Putting aside the Brass concert for a moment (that may or may not be rail strike affected… it doesn’t say), is not unusual for cathedrals to have a number of said services over the summer when their own choirs – boys especially – are on holiday.
Yes, they may invite visiting choirs to fill the schedule, but in August, many such choirs are also on holiday (they are typically private school chapel choirs).
And so, in the absence of a local voluntary choir (who usually sing Sundays only or occasional weekdays), having a greater number than ‘usual’ said services in late July into August is not, well,that unusual.
Point me to the bit that explicitly states ‘owing to rail strikes’ and i will gladly revise my opinion.
But until then, it is conjecture (with fair odds, granted).
Yeah: “able to get to us” may be a clue.