Westminster Abbey, a Moment of Silence and Worship

On our visit to London, the transporation system, while remarkable, challenged us mentally and physically. Each morning confronted us with the question, "Where do we go after the train ride from Hove?" The train and tube required lots of steps down and then up. Twice a day. We joined thousands of Londoners and confused tourists, jostling for information and seats. And soon we understood that politeness might need to be left on the sidewalk at Rush Hour, as commuters pushed their way through the subway doors, grabbing whatever handle available to steady themselves during the sometimes rocking and rolling rides. We especially loved the constant reminder at each stop, "Mind the gap" and more than once, we avoided slipping our feet into said gap because of these words.

Our second day in London, Chuck asked a young man if we were at the right bus stop for Westminster Abbey. Not only did he confirm we were at the right stop, he told us he worked at Westminster and would tell us where to get off the bus. Then he walked us to the door of the Abbey, telling us that he spoke 7 languages fluently, did not attend school because he had ADHD and hoped to come to America some day. When we asked one of the guides inside the Abbey if he knew this young man who spoke 7 languages fluently, he chuckled and said, "Maybe he can speak one fluent sentence in each language....." Out of respect for the sacredness of this still active church, we were not permitted to take pictures inside the Abbey. The beauty of this place where coronations and royal weddings take place is beyond description. 

A Moment of Silence Across Great Britain

The week before we visited Westminster Abbey a terrorist attacked vacationers at a beach in Tunisia. To honor the British citizens who were murdered, the government acted swiftly and ordered all flags to be at half mast.

Buckingham Palace - Flag at Half Mast

Walking around the Abbey, felt sacred, as we read numerous Biblical inscriptions on grave markers, scriptures declaring God's glory and the hope of eternal life. At noon on our day at the Abbey, we listened as an announcer asked everyone in the Abbey to join all Londoners in a moment of silence in honor of those slain. What a profound experience, as thousands of noisy tourists suddenly stopped in place, and bowed heads in silence. A few minutes later, Chuck and I worshiped with people from all over the world in a mid day Holy Communion service in the Abbey. While a different tradition than ours, we were moved by the scriptures chosen for this ritual and how specifically they outlined the Gospel. We wondered if the presiding minister chose these scriptures to intentionally proclaim to all who listened, that Jesus is our Savior. An elderly Middle Eastern gentleman sat next to me and joined in the congregational responses, clearly moved by the words. As we knelt at the altar to receive the bread and the wine, we thought of all those who had knelt in these places before us, the way the Gospel is declared through these rituals and prayed for the Holy Spirit to open hearts to the Scripture.

Snapped before we knew photography was forbidden

While the Abbey showcases hundreds of years of history, Britain has not forgotten the Christian martyrs of this era and added ten statues on the outside of the Abbey to commemorate those who have lost their lives because of their faith. Included are Deitrich Bonhoeffer and Martin Luther King. At the presentation of these statues, the Rev. Dr. Anthony Harvey, sub-dean of Westminster, told the congregation, "There has never been atime in Christian history when someone, somewhere, has not died rather than compromise with the powers of oppression, tyranny and unbelief...But our century, which has been the most violent in recorded history, has created a roll of Christian martyrs far exceeding that of any previous period."

Martyrs of the Modern Era

Directions, Please!

Once more, Chuck asked for help in finding the right bus station and this time found a really friendly "bobby" who knew that Delaware is a state!

 Let the walking begin! Chuck and I are convinced we walked miles every day, up and down steps and in an around the streets of London, taking in the sites, and choosing to enjoy the wrong turns. Every morning we walked to the train station, rode the train to Victoria Station, climbed up and down steps (seemed like hundreds!) to get to the subway, took the Tube to a location nearest the site we planned to visit, hopped a bus or walked some more. Because this is an old, old city, tourist sites include lots and lots of steep steps.

By the time we walked back to our flat in Hove, bedtime could not come fast enough.

Blessings -
Sharon