What is in Kelvin's Head?

  • Sermon preached on 4 August 2013

    I used to work in a church with murals. Well one mural. It wasn’t this church and it wasn’t these glorious murals. It was somewhere else entirely.

    (By which I mean Edinburgh).

    Throughout the late fifties, the sixties and early seventies, a sustained period of liturgical reform had happened. The altar had been pulled away from the wall. The priest now faced the people. The peace was shared and communion started to happen every Sunday. Those of you who have been around for a bit might remember that story from all kinds of contexts. Those who are new to Episcopal worship might be surprised to learn that how we do things is not in fact as old as the hills at all.

    Anyway, these liturgical reforms in this church had left a big space to fill. Somewhere along the way, the East Window had been bricked up and whitewashed over and now there was a giant wall to fill.

    And, of course, just as we can be sure that someone was heartily trying to encourage the congregation to sing Kum By Yah. so, inevitably, someone got to paint a mural.

    Unlike Gwyneth Leech’s paintings, which surround me here in this church. this was a rather less successful piece. (more…)

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9 responses to “Jane Russell RIP”

  1. fr dougal Avatar
    fr dougal

    She had politics?

    Reply
  2. Kelvin Holdsworth Avatar
    Kelvin Holdsworth

    I believe she described herself as “a teetotal, mean-spirited, right-wing, narrow-minded, conservative Christian bigot.”

    Any more questions, John?

    (Apart from where one might find flesh coloured swimming trunks?)

    Reply
  3. fr dougal Avatar
    fr dougal

    Well, at least she was honest – and by now she knows she was wrong!

    Reply
  4. Rosemary Hannah Avatar
    Rosemary Hannah

    Not just the flesh colour but the little dark band on them which is – quite distracting.

    Reply
  5. kelvin Avatar
    kelvin

    I wondered whether the little dark band was sewn on in order to show, for the avoidance of doubt, that they were in fact wearing something.

    Reply
  6. Rosemary Hannah Avatar
    Rosemary Hannah

    I think we have to admit the little band does rather more than draw attention to their being to some degree dressed.

    Reply
  7. kelvin Avatar
    kelvin

    I think its a curious visual paradox. It makes them appear dressed on the one hand and quite undressed on the other.

    Reply
  8. RevRuth Avatar
    RevRuth

    Oh I see!This wasn’t really about Jane Rusell at all…

    Reply
  9. Kelvin Avatar
    Kelvin

    Pay attention, Mother. Pay attention.

    Reply

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