Tom

Want to attend a Sunday Morning Church service in London on 20 September. Any suggestions or experiences would be appreciated.

Heather

If you're willing to go to a church service on Sunday afternoon instead, I highly recommend an Evensong service. We attended Evensong at Westminster Abbey at 3:00 on Sunday, August 9. On Sundays, there is a sermon in addition to the regular scripture readings, prayers, and phenomenal choir responses. The abbey is closed to "tourists" during the service, but if you tell them you're there for the worship service, they'll let you right on in. The accoustics were incredible, and participating in worship in such a beautiful place was an experience that I'll never forget. <BR>

kam

Absolutely agree with the above and it's a very nice respite from sightseeing. London closes down a bit on Sundays so this and then a nice dinner to follow make for a nice Sunday. Enjoy. There is also the Catholic Church out in Kensington on High Street or Brompton Road, can't remember which, if you are actually looking for a church (as in Mass) experience. <BR>

JOAN DOYLE

Dear Tom: My favorite for Sunday morning in London is the Jesuit Church in Farm Street (near the US Embassy and attended by many diplomatic families PLUS the mother of the late Princess Diana). They have a wonderful choir (which has issued several recordings) and usually a good homily. The service (at 11 a.m.)is followed by a delightful coffee hour to which all are welcome. Hope you enjoy it. (The Catholic church in Kensington referred to above is the Brompton Oratory--with which Cardinal Newman was associated in his lifetime. Big and gloomy with no music I can remember.) <BR> jOAN

anna

High Communion service at 11AM at St. Paul's (or was it 11:30--I'm not sure now.) was absolutely beautiful. We sat in the second row, right under the dome.

Angela

agree with High Communion at St. Paul's, very welcoming there. I too would agree with going to Evensong, do check out St.Martin-in-the-fields at 5:00 p.m., it was the best I've attended.

sonia

Tom, the Westminster/St. Pauls suggestions are good classic choices for traditional Anglican services and big choirs. If you'd like something less "classic", more evangelical, try St Helens Bishopsgate (walk from Liverpool St. station). We went there in June. It's a 13th century Norman church in the center of the city's financial district -- quite a disconnect there! But you will hear excellent teaching, and get a warm welcome from a very lively community, many families from all over the city. A more personal experience, quite different from the tourists who flock to the abbey. <BR> <BR>Also on Brompton Road (Knightsbridge, next to the Oratory) is Trinity (Holy Trinity?) church, also Anglican. That's a lively young community, where the Alpha program was created. <BR> <BR>Enjoy your trip, September is a lovely month for London. <BR>

Marcia

St. Martin in the Fields on Trafalgar Square is another wonderful church. It is literally across the street from the National Gallery. Don't know if you call the U.S.A. home or not, but St. Martin in the Fields is, quite literally, the model for the typical "New England" clapboard church with the tall steeple - only here it is in stone. The Colonials translated into wood, and you can see it in Philadelphia, Bruton Paris (Virginia), Boston --- and lots of other places, including the inside arrangement. <BR> If you don't go to a service there, then check their concert schedule. They are a major music site, choirs and instrumental. <BR>

michele

i'll be living in west london on marylebone street. does anyone know of any catholic churches in the immediate area? i'd like to find a church i can frequent for sunday morning masses. thanks!