The Village Church

The door of this place is open, because someone has invited you to come in. You will be going somewhere you have never been to before, and never ever likely to ever visit in the whole of your life. What is more, you will be meeting someone there; you will be seated, not really on a wooden bench, but on the finest satin damask, mounted on a rich mahogany frame. The special someone who has invited you here, to this building, will be standing in a place where you cannot go. Although thus detached from you, yet nevertheless he will instantly know who you are, where you live, how you run your life, and, yes, in fact everything about you, although this person has never seen you before. He recognises you, and you will certainly know him, because he will be dressed differently from anyone else you can see, anywhere you are, when you are there. He is the Priest, the most special Being to you, whilst you are in Church.

You will not be staying long, and although feeling very joyous to have been invited here, in this very special place, to be seated on this sumptuous chair, covered in real satin, you will not be allowed to stay very long, but must soon leave, and to leave this one person who knows you so well, and whom you can clearly see.

The Priest will be saying something directly to you, to which you may reply in a way you will be told how to do, and which it will be most necessary for you to do. Other people, during your stay, will also say something directly to you, although once again, this will be spoken to you in a way you are unused to hearing, in your everyday life. You will not be required to say anything.

The Priest, who knows all your problems and joys so well, will stand sometimes, and by so doing, will silently invite you also to rise, and join him to sing; a very happy time for you. At other times, he will ask you to kneel, in a gesture of special devotion and will lead you in what to say, in thanks to him, the Church, and to someone else, that he, and you, knows very well indeed.

Rosemary Goulding

 Readers are invited to comment on this article for the next edition. How do you feel when you enter a Church? Who do you expect to meet? Does the presence of other people irritate you?