As you might guess from the most famous members, that is a relatively 'low' parish, but the family drifted 'high' in the interim.
We found a very reverent Catholic parish with orthodox theology and great attention to proper celebration -- and really it was not much of a wrench to wade 'cross the Tiber. My daughter was only 13 at the time, and she remarked that she couldn't really see much difference -- we still said the Rosary and still had the crucifix on the wall in the stairwell . . . . she didn't like the music much, but that got better with a new music director. :-D
My occasional salvos (in sorrow and anger) against the Episcopal Church hierarchy in no way reflect on those honest faithful who remain there. If it's for the time being, and I can help, call me.
The ancestral roots I have been able to trace thus far are more plain. St. Mary's, Swansea, Wales was the church my Great Grandparents were married in in the mid 1800s. It was bombed in the Blitz February 1941 and not rebuilt until the 1950s. 1770 is the earliest I have been able to trace back on another of my Anglo ancestral branches. It was the year my GGGG Grandparents married in the Church of England in Lincolnshire England.
I don't know how many generations back my family were members of the Church of England but it might be my catechism which influences me still. I don't even know if the Episcopal Church offers Catechism classes anymore.
I was an all A honors student who studied little and played hard so I figured Catechism classes would be a breeze. They were not easy and required much reading and turning in weekly written assignments. Our final written test was difficult with no easy guesses and we also had long essay questions.
The visiting Bishop for my Catechism gave a very moving sermon. I felt the weight and believed my responsibility for receiving the Holy Spirit and entering the Church as an adult member despite my young age.
Yes, the music is something I dearly miss when I attend Catholic Mass.
Thank you for your very kind offer. I would love to chat with you more about this.
Sorry for this thread hijack. I am so excited! Thank you very much for bringing up Anglo heritage. I searched St. Mary’s Swansea and just minutes ago found some photos, one circa 1870 which I believe would be close to the time my Great Grandparents were to be married in St. Mary’s Church!
The workers are tearing down a building to add on to the church which is barely seen on the far right.
What’s fascinating is that a few of the men doing some of the heavy lifting are dressed in vests, suit coats and proper hats. That matches what my dear 96 year old Aunt said about how the men in our Welsh family dressed every day.
Courtesy ping to fellow Cymry Myrddin,
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Cross Street - demolition in progress
This is Cross Street c.1870, now Princess Way looking towards the Marina. St Mary’s Church can be seen on the right. The row of buildings on the right of Cross Street are being demolished, the land will be incorporated into the church grounds. The group of people on the right are standing on the remains of the ‘Smithy’
http://www.swanseaheritage.net/swanseathroughtheyears/gat_full.asp?A_ID=245
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c. St. Mary’s Church from Ben’s
“Though totally rebuilt in 1895 - 97, and much repaired before that, the parish church of Swansea had stood on this site since the Middle Ages.” (”All that was left was the coalshed...”, p.52, published by Swansea Museums Service, 1997.)
http://www.swanseaheritage.net/swanseathroughtheyears/gat_full.asp?A_ID=56