Photo taken on last day at Bradford Cathedral
As my first year at Theological College draws to a close, I find myself struggling to find the words to reflect on the time. It was for all first year ordinands a start to training like no other. With Covid putting limitations on what could and couldn’t be done it wasn’t always possible to have a ‘normal’ college experience – though what does that actually mean. We were fortunate enough to gather in person back in September, with social distancing and face masks becoming the ‘new normal’. Singing was stopped, so after 8 months we still haven’t joined in at Evensong. As the second lockdown started in the Advent Term, we were prevented from worshipping in Upper Church alongside the Community and as the country entered the third lockdown we didn’t regather as a College physically following the Christmas break. We remained online for the entirety of the Lent Term, before rejoining at the start of the Summer Term for the final 6 weeks together.
For some Mirfield is well known for Holy Week, welcoming many guests to journey through this period alongside the students (members of the Community traditionally go off to parishes). With no guests, the College not in residence and the Community unable to visit parishes there were doubts as to what would be possible. With 8 students currently resident on site it was all hands on deck to try and host a Holy Week as close to normal as was practically possible. When you consider that there are normally 30(ish) students, plus staff and guests, this was going to be a challenge.
Facebook Livestream of the Watch at the Garden of Repose
My role for the week was to livestream all the services for the core followers of the Community’s Facebook page and the students in diaspora. It was a big undertaking having to be present at all liturgy rehearsals, learn a new piece of software, set up cameras and microphones prior to the service and making sure they were in the correct places to ‘catch the action’. I’ll be honest… I’d pick running a Zoom online service over this every time!! I think the scariest part is having no idea what is happening on Facebook – there were a few times I ducked into an aisle to check the stream on my phone. I guess it was probably a good thing that the services got progressively harder as the week went on. Maundy Thursday into Good Friday presented the challenge of streaming the Watch from Lower Church for 16 hours; Facebook restrictions meant that you could only stream for 4 hours at a time. Fortunately fellow students were keeping Watch in the building to assist with this. But, the biggest challenge was the Easter Vigil and Solemn Mass. Starting outside at 5am around the Easter fire, moving into Lower Church for the remainder of the Vigil and then processing to Upper Church for the Solemn Mass, starting around the font and then moving towards the altar. Due to the WiFi connection from Upper Church not reaching Lower Church or outside, this meant streaming over 4G on my phone for the Vigil and then also for the procession (during which I darted upstairs to switch the devices on and start streaming up there to make sure the battery life lasted!!). During the Litany of the Saints, three of the cameras had to be repositioned ready for the Eucharist. Let’s just say I was very grateful for the glass of fizz and cooked breakfast at 7.30am when it was all over! I look forward to experiencing a ‘normal’ Mirfield Holy Week next year – all being well.
Easter Day Morning Fizz
Essay deadlines this semester were BONKERS but a couple of short extensions helped balance them out a bit! Overall, academically it was a good year and I was pleased with all my grades (the Elementary New Testament Greek was the biggest surprise). I’ve enjoyed learning more about the English Mystics, exploring Feminist Criticisms of the Bible and even getting to grips with the original Greek of the New Testament and the translation choices made.
We were fortunate with the weather for the Summer Term
As the College regathered for the Summer Term and Covid restrictions relaxed it was good to be able to give this year’s Leavers a fitting send off – something that those leaving last year missed. I am sad for those that trained for two years, with most of their time hampered in some way and leaving without experiencing a Holy Week.
Knitted Lamb and Flags painstakingly created for the Children leaving this year.
As I look back over my first year of college I can see how I have continued to grow. I am grateful for the time we’ve had together when I know other colleges have remained separated. I am thankful for the friendships made and the relationships formed. I look forward to September and what that will bring. As the holiday’s start I hope to find space to reflect more fully, between a parish placement at St Martins, Gospel Oak, North London and a sector placement with the Mental Health Chaplaincy team in Devon Partnership Trust – on paper it may look like a 16 week break but in reality downtime is probably closer to 8 weeks. I hope that as restrictions relax I will be able to spend more time with those I’ve been unable to see.
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