Good Friday quiz

[whole diary]

[JontyMort]

Although the answer is wrong, that is a very interesting piece of research.

The church in question was designed by the same architect as St Johns in Taunton.   It also follows the same branch of the Anglican church.

In that case, Saint Mark the Evangelist, Swindon would be apt in many ways. It's even right next to the railway, and:

St Mark's was built to serve workers of the Great Western Railway, whose Swindon Works were nearby.

The correct answer.   I can see the spire from my office window above the rooftops over Faringdon Road (GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway)) Park.   Often known as the Railway Church, you can see it on the left as you leave Swindon on a westbound train just past the water tower.  I feel sorry for the new priest there - he was appointed after the parish went more than a year without one.  His first task after being installed was to receive the keys so he could go round and lock up all three churches under his authority as the lockdown began.

Thanks to all those who took part in the quiz.

Thanks for organising it. Good fun.

[JontyMort]

Although the answer is wrong, that is a very interesting piece of research.

The church in question was designed by the same architect as St Johns in Taunton.   It also follows the same branch of the Anglican church.

In that case, Saint Mark the Evangelist, Swindon would be apt in many ways. It's even right next to the railway, and:

St Mark's was built to serve workers of the Great Western Railway, whose Swindon Works were nearby.

The only thing I know about the church is that Britten’s Festival Te Deum was written for it in 1945 - a staggeringly difficult piece for a parish church choir.

[bobm]

From reports I’ve read I don’t think he was too impressed by the end result. 

[ellendune]

The only thing I know about the church is that Britten’s Festival Te Deum was written for it in 1945 - a staggeringly difficult piece for a parish church choir.

Yes it was written to celebrate their centenary.

The Royal School of Church Music describes it as "Britten's Festival Te Deum is a classic of the 20th Century, and not nearly as difficult as you may think."

I understood it was the organ part that was difficult.

From reports I’ve read I don’t think he was too impressed by the end result. 

Yes I heard that too

[JontyMort]

The only thing I know about the church is that Britten’s Festival Te Deum was written for it in 1945 - a staggeringly difficult piece for a parish church choir.

Yes it was written to celebrate their centenary.

The Royal School of Church Music describes it as "Britten's Festival Te Deum is a classic of the 20th Century, and not nearly as difficult as you may think."

I understood it was the organ part that was difficult.

From reports I’ve read I don’t think he was too impressed by the end result. 

Yes I heard that too

Wikipedia suggests that. But presumably the money was OK.

The organ part is certainly tricky, but the chorus isn’t really parish church stuff either, and there’s a deceptively simple treble solo towards the end. I’ve sung it in a cathedral choir - not one of those in today’s quiz, and not the solo, I hasten to add!

[ellendune]

I have never sung it so I really can't comment beyond what the RSCM says