It is my custom to engage in divine worship on Sunday morning at a church where I have certain musical responsibilities. As a result, I have usually attended my local faire (MNRF) on Saturday.
I am curious whether anyone has attended a chapel service either at MNRF or another faire. What was it like? Was there any sort of organized leadership? Was it well attended? Was it worshipful? Was there music? Was the service in keeping with the Elizabethan theme in terms of language and use of the 16th century BCP?
When Easter Sunday falls during Faire, Scarborough always has a period (edited) Easter service.
It has always been very well attended.
I have attended one at the Gulf Coast faire in Pensacola, FL.
It was attended by many of the staff and a cold and quite windy day. There was very little music that I remember.
It didn't adhere to any time frame.
You should have been at CRF this past Sunday at Hey Nunnie Nunnie's first show of the day! ::) Wish I had a pix to post!
here is a pic if i can get the link to work
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/pp148/Willow52r/14542_1209848579543_1628597152_4952.jpg
MNRF has services every Sunday. They may be before cannon though, I am not sure.
Bristol has a Sunday service at 10:15 a.m. every Sunday. Since Steve and I are usually still driving at that time, we miss it, but one Sunday this past season we woke up unusually early and left before we normally would and arrived for opening gate (3 hours each way trip for us). It was an Episcopal Service from the Book of Common Prayer. Being Episcopalians, we recognized the Morning Prayer service, but the book they used was the 15th or 16th century version, and used "thee" and "thou." And instead of actual prayer books like in church, the service was printed on both sides of a paper. It had the Collect, Prayers, Readings, and everyone stood up for the Gospel.
We were surprised to even hear a sermon. After the service, we found out the clergy actually was a clergyman. He was dressed as the priests would have dressed in Elizabeth's time. Cardinal Wolsley was there, but he was a cast member on Elizabeth's court. There were other nobles there, also on cast and part of Elizabeth's court.
There were people dressed in garb, those in mundane clothes, too. All told, about 25-30 people. It was held at the Fountainside Stage. There was an altar with a Crucifix, and the priest did speak with an English accent. Since we have to miss church every Sunday we go to faire, we loved it.
Quote from: Sitara on November 27, 2009, 04:20:39 PM
MNRF has services every Sunday. They may be before cannon though, I am not sure.
I know they did in the past but I have not seen them as late...I will have to look into that.
I do know there are other non Judeo/Christian blessings and rites that take place through the run of the season. I like the open welcoming approach and appreciate a fair that helps meet their customers spiritual needs as well.
Quote from: Noble Dreg on November 27, 2009, 05:52:22 PM
Quote from: Sitara on November 27, 2009, 04:20:39 PM
MNRF has services every Sunday. They may be before cannon though, I am not sure.
I know they did in the past but I have not seen them as late...I will have to look into that.
I do know there are other non Judeo/Christian blessings and rites that take place through the run of the season. I like the open welcoming approach and appreciate a fair that helps meet their customers spiritual needs as well.
There were signs for it all over back stage. I assumed they were still going on as they we new paper signs.
MNRF does indeed still have Sunday morning services, as we spoke with the man who led them, he is an ordained minister. His name is Steve West. He is also called the Protestant Reformer.
Quote from: VIII on November 27, 2009, 09:46:01 AM
When Easter Sunday falls during Faire, Scarborough always has a period (edited) Easter service.
It has always been very well attended.
This past faire season there was a service every Sunday AM. I attended it a few times. It wasn't strict period but it tried to be as close as possible.
Can't say I've seen services performed at either VARF or MDRF. VARF as a small faire is kind of obvious why not. MDRF, well... I dunno, they might have them, I've just never seen them. I'm usually sipping the sacramental stout by any time service would be held, at the White Hart "Temple" (read: tavern). But I've never gone looking, churches and I mix about as well as phosphorous and water, and God does understand it, I believe.
Scarby management this past season was great they allowed the Queen's Own Highlanders regimental chaplain Father William to conduct Sunday services in the Rose garden complete with Communion. Father William isn't Catholic so the services were not totally period but they were based on historical services
I think there's Catholic mass on Sundays at 6pm at MNRF too . Or maybe it's Saturday, I'm not Catholic so I have never attended...
Quote from: Charlotte Rowan on December 05, 2009, 03:19:16 PM
I think there's Catholic mass on Sundays at 6pm at MNRF too . Or maybe it's Saturday, I'm not Catholic so I have never attended...
I didn't even know that some of the ren fests even bothered with a Catholic Mass. It would have to be a Latin rite (pre vatican 2) and you have to get permission from the bishop for that. Its easier now since B2 became Pope but not that many priests know Latin that well anymore. It would be cool to see one done that would be histroically accurate.
I think it's kind of funny, considering just about everything at a Ren-faire is steeped in Paganism.
Huzzah for us Pagans!
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y287/RumbaRue/celtictree.jpg)
There may be paganism among the patrons (and even the cast) at Ren faires today, but that is in this century, not necessarily how it was during the time period. Back then, most people were very religious, contrary to today.
So if the faire is trying for some degree of historical accuracy (yes, I realize Queen Elizabeth I and Robin Hood were centuries apart!), even the casts' garb, especially the nobles, may consist of a cross or paternoster.
And there are those of us who do participate in religious ceremonies who enjoy being able to attend a service at a place we love! ;D
Well, said, Lady Renee!
Anyone that wasn't Christian during the Renaissance would be considered a heretic and you know what happens to them, right? The church was a very powerful force at that time.
Pagans were not tolerated, so Ren faires are not very historically accurate by allowing that, but we do tolerate more these days. I find it odd that people think there was a lot of paganism 500 years ago. If they were pagan, it would be kept a secret. To involve/appease more people, the church eventually tried to incorporate some of the pagan beliefs into Christianity. For example, the Christmas tree was not originally a Christian symbol, but it became one.
Anyway, that's how I understand it.
Yeah...the Pagans would definitly have been run into hiding by the Witchcraft acts of the times. Along with those of the Jewish faith and anyone else who didn't agree with the current Monarchs spiritual beliefs.
http://elizabethan.org/compendium/7.html
http://www.elizabethan-era.org.uk/queen-elizabeth-i-jews-catholics.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Witchcraft_Act
I'm a huge history buff and fascinated by the political/religous tug of wars of the times. Don't think I'd want to visit a faire that attempted to re-enact that particular dismal slice of our past in all of it's facets. Yikes!
As for attending a service at faire, I think it would be a lovely gesture to those fairegoes who might have to make a choice between faire and church each Sunday. I'm not a church goer, but I am..or at least try to be... very spiritual and I'd attend. If they were able to make it historically accurate to the time or the Monarch even better.
I do remember years back, that Queen Elizabeth (Baj) and her trusty jester (Bubboon), did a prayer. It was the "Lord's Prayer". It was so moving as he expressed it in sign language.
I cried, just to be there with two people who were my dearest friends at faire. I was able to feel the love, warmth and serenity of that little gathering, in the 'grove'.
I think if some would enjoy a 'universal service', it could be offered, without offense to anyone. I know I would enjoy it, very much.
At Bristol, the service was Church of England/Anglican, or very similar to the Episcopal Church in America, part of the Anglican Communion.
The thing about the service, no matter what denomination, is that attendance is voluntary, so if someone doesn't like it, then there are many other shows to attend, held at the same time. There should be no reason for anyone to become offended by any services that are offered, and that's the nice thing about faire.
And also the bad thing. So many choices, so little time! ;D
If either of the 2 GCRF editions had a Latin Mass I would surely attend.
i'm loving this topic but was wondering if there is any all Christian faires in the us especially the mid-west
Quote from: Lady Renee Buchanan on December 13, 2009, 02:15:24 PM
At Bristol, the service was Church of England/Anglican, or very similar to the Episcopal Church in America, part of the Anglican Communion.
I think for the BARF this would be the most logical service, seeing the Tudor Era influence at our fair. Heck Henry VIII drove the split from the catholic church though he did believe in the traditional Catholic mass.
In a bit of irony one of those in my rennie cadre actually happens to have once been a catholic priest who converted to gnosticism and know holds title of Bishop. Even better is this is his character that he brings to the BARF!
Quote from: Leneas Distara on February 20, 2010, 09:47:02 AM
Quote from: Lady Renee Buchanan on December 13, 2009, 02:15:24 PM
At Bristol, the service was Church of England/Anglican, or very similar to the Episcopal Church in America, part of the Anglican Communion.
I think for the BARF this would be the most logical service, seeing the Tudor Era influence at our fair. Heck Henry VIII drove the split from the catholic church though he did believe in the traditional Catholic mass.
In a bit of irony one of those in my rennie cadre actually happens to have once been a catholic priest who converted to gnosticism and know holds title of Bishop. Even better is this is his character that he brings to the BARF!
I'm conversant in the use of either the 1549 Book of Common prayer or the Roman Rite according to the Knott Missal. Was there a group at BARF that wanted some sort of service?