Reflecting on tradition #mondaymusings

Posted on May 23, 2016 by TanGental

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I’ve been to a fair few weddings in my time, including my own. I’ve sat in cold churches and depressing registry offices; I’ve looked over lakes at stately homes while vows were exchanged and watched as a Caribbean sun sank behind a white painted arbour (I wasn’t invited to that one but still…).

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And this weekend I went to a wedding where the Vet was Maid of Honour and looked stunning (I’m her dad, that’s allowed) though the Bride was, of course, the star in female glamour stakes. It was held in St Lawrence Jewry, a Wren Church next to the Guildhall in central London. It was one of the more enjoyable celebrations, in part because both Bride and Groom are committed to their faith and for a significant part of the congregation every word of the ceremony carried a deeper meaning than at a lot of weddings I’ve attended.

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I’m not of any religion and tend to watch at these events at one remove but you do get swept up in it all, especially when there is genuine enjoyment all around. And standing there, rather ignoring the words and allowing the music to take me along, I had to acknowledge, somewhat to my own surprise given where I stand on, that the best setting for a wedding is undoubtedly the ancient English church. There’s something in the timelessness of it all, the ooze of tradition, the instant respect for the space, the filtered light, the library-like whispers, the tie biting at my neck, the vaulted sweeping harmonies, the uncomfortable seats and the overall grandiosity of it all that draws you in.

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Funny old world.

About TanGental

My name is Geoff Le Pard. Once I was a lawyer; now I am a writer. I've published several books: a four book series following Harry Spittle as he grows from hapless student to hapless partner in a London law firm; four others in different genres; a book of poetry; four anthologies of short fiction; and a memoir of my mother. I have several more in the pipeline. I have been blogging regularly since 2014, on topic as diverse as: poetry based on famous poems; memories from my life; my garden; my dog; a whole variety of short fiction; my attempts at baking and food; travel and the consequent disasters; theatre, film and book reviews; and the occasional thought piece. Mostly it is whatever takes my fancy. I avoid politics, mostly, and religion, always. I don't mean to upset anyone but if I do, well, sorry and I suggest you go elsewhere. These are my thoughts and no one else is to blame. If you want to nab anything I post, please acknowledge where it came from.
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49 Responses to Reflecting on tradition #mondaymusings

  1. Al Lane says:
    May 23, 2016 at 1:09 pm

    Your last sentence cuts off mid-sentence. Is this a ploy to leave your audience hanging? šŸ™‚

    Liked by 1 person

  2. vanbytheriver says:
    May 23, 2016 at 1:42 pm

    The photos are beautiful, you are a proud papa. ā˜ŗ It does look like your text stopped short, though. ???

    Liked by 1 person

  3. Helen Jones says:
    May 23, 2016 at 1:51 pm

    I’m with you, Geoff – there is something about the years and layers of history that make such places feel special, even if you aren’t particularly religious. And what a great place for a wedding! I love the Guildhall Square. You looked very dashing, btw, and the Vet looked lovely. :_)

    Liked by 1 person

  4. derrickjknight says:
    May 23, 2016 at 2:48 pm

    Lovely pictures; lovely daughter

    Liked by 1 person

  5. Allie P. says:
    May 23, 2016 at 5:01 pm

    The bride made a huge mistake. Didn’t anyone tell her that she is supposed to pick bridesmaid dresses that only make the bride more beautiful by comparison? The vet looks gorgeous, and you clean up nicely yourself.

    Liked by 1 person

  6. Let's CUT the Crap! says:
    May 23, 2016 at 5:01 pm

    Weddings ARE special. Your daughter is gorgeous. Chip off the old block, yes?
    Wonderful pictures. Thank you for sharing. šŸ™‚

    Liked by 1 person

  7. Autism Mom says:
    May 23, 2016 at 5:13 pm

    Clearly a lovely event on many levels.

    Our best to the Vet – tell her we say she looked beautiful! Yeah, you did too. šŸ˜‰

    Liked by 1 person

  8. Ritu says:
    May 23, 2016 at 5:48 pm

    Love a good wedding! !!!

    Liked by 1 person

  9. AnnonƩ Butler. says:
    May 23, 2016 at 6:59 pm

    Absolutely true. I’m always reminded of T S Eliot in ancient churches “you are here to kneel where prayer has been valid”. Applies whatever one’s faith (or lack of it) I think.

    Liked by 1 person

    • TanGental says:
      May 23, 2016 at 7:53 pm

      Hi Annone. Hope you are well. Yes I think that is true; the urge to kneel and sing hymns, rather like taking off my hat and singing the national anthem remains ingrained in me.

      Like

  10. GP Cox says:
    May 23, 2016 at 7:32 pm

    Lovely description of weddings and the Vet is stunning.

    Liked by 1 person

  11. Gulara says:
    May 23, 2016 at 7:32 pm

    Great photos, Geoff, your daughter is gorgeous. sweet šŸ™‚

    Liked by 1 person

  12. yvonne says:
    May 23, 2016 at 8:21 pm

    Looks like you had fun and I agree with Allie’s comment – bridesmaids’ dresses are traditionally ugh – though it hadn’t occurred to me why that was till I read her comment! šŸ™‚ Your daughter and her dress both look gorgeous, so I’m not surprised you feel proud!

    Liked by 1 person

  13. merrildsmith says:
    May 23, 2016 at 8:31 pm

    Your daughter looks lovely, and you look quite dapper yourself! Great photos!

    We’ve had three family weddings fairly recently–both daughters and my sister. All were different and all were beautiful. (None in a church.) šŸ™‚

    Liked by 1 person

  14. Rachel M says:
    May 23, 2016 at 8:32 pm

    The pics are fantastic! I love weddings but have been to very few. I’m not convinced church weddings are better but then I don’t have the same pool of data as you for comparison.

    Liked by 1 person

  16. Anabel Marsh says:
    May 23, 2016 at 11:18 pm

    Very natty hat! Two lovely photos with your daughter. She carries the flowers off better though….

    Liked by 1 person

  17. Judy Martin says:
    May 24, 2016 at 7:32 am

    Your daughter is beautiful, Geoff, and you scrub up quite nicely too!
    I feel the same about tradition and churches, there is just something about them. I am not overly religious (although my dad), but I certainly feel an inner peace and calm when I am in a church.

    Liked by 1 person

  18. Hugh's Views and News says:
    May 24, 2016 at 9:01 am

    Phew! Just for a moment I thought you were the father of the bride and hadn’t told us. Nonetheless, you both look exactly what the occasion was all about. It’s always good to see men in hats. They’re not just for the ladies.

    Liked by 2 people

  19. noelleg44 says:
    May 25, 2016 at 2:54 am

    And just where did the gorgeous daughter come from? Just kidding! You both look de-
    lovely!

    Liked by 1 person

  20. Ali Isaac says:
    May 25, 2016 at 1:44 pm

    I can appreciate that. Irish Catholic churches on the other hand tend to be modern and quite ugly. And you look dashing in your hat. And the Vet is definitely GORGEOUS! šŸ˜Š

    Liked by 1 person

  21. Rowena says:
    May 28, 2016 at 2:04 pm

    What beautiful photos of you with your daughter. I’ll plagiarise “dapper” as a great description of you and your daughter is stunning but also looks like she shares your sense of humour. She did very well in the dress stakes. I watched a movie last weekend while I was typing. I can’t remember the title but it was something like “Umpteen Bridesmaid’s Dresses” and they were all hideous!!
    By the way, given your sense of humour I was very tempted to make some wise crack something along the lines of cradle snatcher but I decided to behave.
    xx Ro

    Liked by 1 person

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