Is Outrage? Drum kit in the Anglican Shrine at Walsingham

Gamma Gamaliel

Is nothing sacred? I'm enjoying spring sunshine at an ecumenical pilgrimage in Walsingham.

On arrival I noticed a drum kit to one side of the Anglican Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham.

How long has this been going on?

When I last visited 25 years ago I was outraged by the statues, dolls and Mariology. Well, actually I wasn't. I was a bit puzzled by it though.

This time I'm outraged by the presence of a drum kit. Well, I'm not actually but just pretending to be.

My serious question is how common is it to find drum kits in Anglo-Catholic settings these days?

MrsBeaky

Our diocese (Chichester) has an annual youth pilgrimage to Walsingham so the use of modern instruments might be partly to do with the demographic?

Jengie Jon

When they have where withall to use a drum kit and the audience to appreciate it, they will use it, but not otherwise. There are even a few cases of Anglo-Catholic Charismatics around. Not sure where today, it is a long time since St Obscures was one of them. However, more common in churches with a sizable teenage* contingent.

In other words, not unknown but nowhere near normative. With Walsingham for Childrens, Youth, families and possibly Adoremus (young adult) if they can find the musicians. I think in this case it was the Children's Pilgrimage.

*I do not mean youth, which typically goes up to something around 25, as once they cross eighteen or go to University, the assumption seems to be hymns and chant is what they come for. Now, brass bands seem to be far more common, at least at festivals up North.

Gamma Gamaliel

I'm now reliably informed that youth pilgrimages here use a marquee with lights, dry-ice and what-not.

Which implies that 'that sort of thing' takes place separately rather than inside the Shrine Church itself.

At least the drum kit was tucked away to one side and not in front of the altar like The Abomination That Causes Desolation which might be the case in HTB-style churches.

😉

I do know of an Anglo-Catholic parish in South Wales that was quite charismatic at one time although that seems to have abated somewhat.

As far as I am aware they never went in for drums. I may be wrong but I'd assume it was more RC folk mass in style.

Alan29

The only RC Mass I've attended with drums was in Africa where they were the only instruments accompanying full-voiced singing from the congregation and a choir of kids all led by a girl who seemed to be about 12! It was Christmas and they had a wonderful way with our traditional carols.
In that context drums were not at all out of place.

Twangist

There will be plainsong at new wine next!!

Arethosemyfeet

I recall attending a "Rock Communion" service aged about 12 which did indeed involve a drum kit being brought into our relatively-high parish church.

Alan29

Arethosemyfeet wrote: »

I recall attending a "Rock Communion" service aged about 12 which did indeed involve a drum kit being brought into our relatively-high parish church.

And I attended a Jazz Mass at St Martin in the Fields at least 50 years ago which had Johnny Dankworth's Band - drums and all.

Gamma Gamaliel

Twangist wrote: »

There will be plainsong at new wine next!!

Glory be if that were so ...

I have heard that New Wine is extending its repertoire somewhat but don't know whether that's the case.

@Alan29 there's African drumming in Orthodox churches in Sub-Saharan Africa and I'd imagine that would be the case in RC and Anglican parishes there too.

It just looked odd to see a drum kit in the already odd and endearingly eccentric Anglican shrine at Walsingham.

Alan29

@Gamma Gamaliel the Ethiopians traditionally use drums.

Gamma Gamaliel

Yes, of course.

I was thinking of the Eastern Orthodox rather than the 'Orientals' which includes the Ethiopians.

They also have liturgical umbrellas to keep off the sun.

Which I think is pretty cool.