The picture carries a further piece of symbolism: the decline of the vowed religious life. The chapel was the chapel of the Community of St Andrew, a community of deaconess sisters who lived the traditional life of an Anglican convent, their special ministry being pastoral diaconal work. They are now down to a handful and live elsewhere. Many Anglican religious orders are in serious decline. Many have ceased to exist. In much of the prosperous West, the same is true of Catholic religious orders, although it helps that they have a bigger pool from which to draw. With the marginalisation of Anglo-Catholicism, Anglican religious orders will struggle to survive. I remember this chapel with great affection from my Anglican past; Mass there was always a dignified affair, and the whole place prayerful.
Well, I did see some familiar names. One was “The Rev. Dr. Bill Atwood” (not “Rt. Rev.” as he now should be known as.) Another was “The Rt. Rev. J. Jon Bruno” (no comment.) It looked like a good number were clergy. I don’t think that the “substantial financial contributor” label could be applied to them, but maybe there’s a “poor-as-church-mice-but-have-wealthy-connections” category.
I see that Martyn Minns is a member. My impression of the Compass Rose is that of an organization, somewhat social, that raises funds to support the bureaucracies of the communion. Apparently, to become a member takes a substantial gift. It might not be a bad idea to form a group to raise money to support the orthodox offices of the wider communion at some point. Though I think it should probably be more egalitarian than Episcopal institutions like the Compass Rose, Church Club and their ilk.
Need to read the fine print I guess. I do hope they get around to updating it soon (though even at that time it would be The Rt. Rev. Martyn and Angela Minns).
Dan Brown is writing a novel [‘No, all details are historically accurate’] about this mysterious, secretive organization pulling strings in high places……
If you want to join something which might actually effect the Anglican Communion in a way which most readers of this blog would consider positive, try the Anglican Communion Institute. It’s obvious the Compass Rose Society is out of date and out of touch.
# 11 – My msitake – it’s actually Umberto Eco and the novel’s called ‘The Name of the Compass Rose’. It’s about the investigation of the death of a gay bishop who dies from a mysterious ‘wind sore’.
“Money talks”
The picture carries a further piece of symbolism: the decline of the vowed religious life. The chapel was the chapel of the Community of St Andrew, a community of deaconess sisters who lived the traditional life of an Anglican convent, their special ministry being pastoral diaconal work. They are now down to a handful and live elsewhere. Many Anglican religious orders are in serious decline. Many have ceased to exist. In much of the prosperous West, the same is true of Catholic religious orders, although it helps that they have a bigger pool from which to draw. With the marginalisation of Anglo-Catholicism, Anglican religious orders will struggle to survive. I remember this chapel with great affection from my Anglican past; Mass there was always a dignified affair, and the whole place prayerful.
The second picture: deckchairs, day before the sinking of the Titanic?
I’m curious. Just what does “significant financial support” constitute? And would I recognize any of their names?
Was “The Worship of Self Society” already taken?
Sue, you can find names here:
http://www.compassrosesociety.org/whoweare.htm
Well, I did see some familiar names. One was “The Rev. Dr. Bill Atwood” (not “Rt. Rev.” as he now should be known as.) Another was “The Rt. Rev. J. Jon Bruno” (no comment.) It looked like a good number were clergy. I don’t think that the “substantial financial contributor” label could be applied to them, but maybe there’s a “poor-as-church-mice-but-have-wealthy-connections” category.
If lots of us joined the Compass Rose Society, would Lambeth be willing to go off the ECUSA dole?
I see that Martyn Minns is a member. My impression of the Compass Rose is that of an organization, somewhat social, that raises funds to support the bureaucracies of the communion. Apparently, to become a member takes a substantial gift. It might not be a bad idea to form a group to raise money to support the orthodox offices of the wider communion at some point. Though I think it should probably be more egalitarian than Episcopal institutions like the Compass Rose, Church Club and their ilk.
“Page Updated: November 1, 2006”
Need to read the fine print I guess. I do hope they get around to updating it soon (though even at that time it would be The Rt. Rev. Martyn and Angela Minns).
Dan Brown is writing a novel [‘No, all details are historically accurate’] about this mysterious, secretive organization pulling strings in high places……
I believe the original Compass Rose is to be found in Rosslyn Chapel.
If you want to join something which might actually effect the Anglican Communion in a way which most readers of this blog would consider positive, try the Anglican Communion Institute. It’s obvious the Compass Rose Society is out of date and out of touch.
# 11 – My msitake – it’s actually Umberto Eco and the novel’s called ‘The Name of the Compass Rose’. It’s about the investigation of the death of a gay bishop who dies from a mysterious ‘wind sore’.