25th january 2026

feast of st paul @ old st paul's

high mass. runnign out of ways to say a church is uniquely beautiful but old st paul's is so wonderfully solemn it is almsot tomb-like and that holy gloom is cut through by the warmth of the congregation who help an elderly woman after she accepts communion. photo does not capture it in great late january greyness.

ratings

• aura

  9/10 crazy aura to it all

• holiness

  9/10 recieving communion while the choir sings in your ears and incense stings your eyes i could feel this mix of trepidation & awe the whole time like i had really been shown even the smalles sliver of the splendour of the lord

• smell

  7.5/10 soooo much incense my lenses clouded up

• community

  6/10 maybe just in my circle but i felt people overall left quite quickly. i also did not go to the proceeding lunch so thi s may be my fault

• engagement

  7/10 standard but i give an extra mark because i'm proud of myself for not needing the sheet for everything

• sound

  8.5/10 oh my days these hymns are bloody brilliant

• theology

  8/10 anglican with the catholic flair. a lot of services i have been to have had what i think is a worrying focus on the self -- here the concern was on the suffering other & god

• nice older ladies

  5/10 did not interact with any sadly :(

  final score: 8.3/10

  intense experience i went home and immediately fell asleep for like 3 hours amen. wonderful but i don't think i could do this every week

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