I’m sorry there was no blog on Sunday, and then two on Monday. A glitch in the system – probably the Lincoln imp, whom I met today.
There’s no breakfast at the hotel, so it’s a hungry ten miles to Retford. But then a huge breakfast butty, and a proper coffee, for a fiver?! Impossible, but true. And the wind’s behind me, and the roads are flat.
Forget the road that degenerated into a footpath, and then proclaimed itself closed because it was a construction site. It’s only half a mile back to a different road.
A single windmill spins cheekily in front of eight huge, but no longer smoking, cooling towers. Change is coming. Skylarks. Gently waving crops, already it seems taller than a week ago. And the most magnificent sky.
Along NCR 64, a wide and smooth cycle track, and beside the canal into Lincoln. The steep hill up to the cathedral is a rude shock after 35 pancake miles.
But Lincoln cathedral has forgotten. Ian, a senior verger, is very apologetic, but immediately helpful. He will have to put me in the Chapter House, to avoid a visiting Texan choir that will be rehearsing at the same time. That’s fine, the Chapter House is splendid, and I’ve been on the telly, and the radio, today, so a handful of people might come anyway.
And indeed, by the time I’ve done a bit of practice, downed some soup in the cathedral cafe, met an old friend, and got back to the Chapter house with ten minutes to spare, there are a good deal more than a handful.
An equally apologetic Dean is there, waiting to introduce me, and then bless me afterwards. And Gillian Lever, artist of these wonderful paintings, is in the front row.
For me, it’s an occasion of wonder. This is what it’s about – the beautiful intimate acoustic of a Chapter House, an audience absorbed in the Meditation, and centuries of faith and history hanging in the air. All made even more special by the artist herself being here, and seeing for the first time how her paintings inspire me. I gave it something special.
Afterwards there are lots of people to meet; I discover that the Texan choir is actually from Georgia; and by the time evensong is done I realise I’ve been in Lincoln cathedral for rather more than six hours.
Good to hear that you had a productive and enjoyable several hours at this beautiful historic cathedral after your cycle there from Sheffield.
I’m sure that each concert will leave a lasting and uplifting memory for those fortunate enough to be able to both se and listen to perform and play your music.
I have noted your concert date for July 4th at 2pm at Carlisle cathedral and hope to be there with my wife to both listen and applaud given that this will be the last cathedral to visit and to play your concert as part of your pilgrimage.
How cool for you that Gillian was in attendance!
Just seeing her paintings arcing in front of you while you focused with “something special” on your performance must have made her day.
Hiya Kenny,
What I like about your blog is that you don’t sugar-coat. I get a real feel for what this pilgrimage is like — the hardships and the joys. Bravo! Wish I could be there for one of the concerts.
Looking forward to the next post —
What a day! Tell us next time you’re gonna be on telly/radio!!
It was a wonderful privilege to witness Pilgrim Cello’s performance in Lincoln Cathedral on Monday. We were treated ro a perfect synthesis of music, poetry, visual art and architecture – each element beautiful in its own right, and, together, creating something utterly moving, intimate and transcendent. I’m still buzzing three days later! Huge thanks to Kenneth, Gillian, and the Cathedral staff. And to anyone reading this who hasn’t yet caught up with this phenomenon, my advice is to drop everything and go! You, like me, will be so glad you did.