Got back in late last night after the first meeting of the St Mary’s LGBT group. Well, it was the first meeting for a while to be truthful. Similar meetings have been going on in St M’s for years. I was learning last night that there used to be a gay clergy group which met here for a time; C of S, piskies and RC priests. The Glasgow Switchboard also found a very secret home in the church in its early days.
To the pub afterwards with a couple of those who had been there. The Ship has a quiz night on a Monday, which we arrived too late to participate in. They also have accoustic mike nights when people can get up and sing. In between the quiz rounds last night they appeared to be playing recordings of some of the accoustic sessions.
Thus we arrived at the bar as a very male voice resounded through the place singing Dolly Parton:
He talks about you in his sleep
There’s nothing I can do to keep
From crying when he calls your name, Jolene
Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene
I’m begging of you please don’t take my man
Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene
Please don’t take him just because you can.
I just love living in this part of this city.
There was a group that met a few times in 87-88. Informally after evening prayer in the little chapel.
Fr Malcolm was provost and Fr John Turner was chaplain at the time.
They had to be quiet about the support because Derek was bishop and he was in his speaking-in-tounges phase and had not yet come out. (when Derek confirmed me he added a little extra bit “in tounges” at the end!)
I remember Fr John complaining about how the bishop was giving them grief over the subject.