July 17 and 18, 2025

In an adventure which involves a large number of people, it is thrilling to arrive at an airport with throngs of people and suddenly catch sight of your fellow travelers. There is a sense of jubilation: “Please, pinch me!” “Has the day really arrived–the trip we’ve dreamed about and worked toward for over a year?”

At Cleveland Hopkins Airport, the security line was long, but the excited chatter of the choir members, family, and fellow travelers gave me a sense of being swept into a lively party.

Our flight to Charlotte was delayed in boarding but delivered us in ample time to grab lunch and navigate to the gate for our England flight. As we waited, the choir members I met expressed the thrill they are feeling of stepping into the grandeur of Bath Abbey and Salisbury and offering the music they’ve worked months to prepare.

Tenor section leader Rowan, an Oberlin College graduate, spoke very movingly of how the Episcopal Church’s historic worship, music, and Christian outlook speaks deeply to him, as it provides a vehicle for uniting love of both earth and heaven, and finding God both in the beautiful and the ordinary. He has found St. Paul’s and its choir a comforting spiritual home.

After we learned of a one hour delay, we hunkered down in the very crowded “C” terminal at Charlotte. Right next to our gate, C-12, people were streaming onto a plane bound for Hartford, Connecticut. As Rowan put it, if someone weren’t paying attention, one might end up in New England instead of old England.

We arrived at Heathrow at 10:30 a.m., many of us chilled to the bone from an over functioning air conditioner on the airplane, but otherwise glad to have arrived.

We recovered our bags at the sprawling baggage claim area, and, after a stop for coffee and pastries, we found our way to our coach, a large, generous bus, driven by friendly Yamush (“John” in Polish), who whisked us skillfully through thick traffic for a three-hour visit to Windsor.

Home of the famous castle established by William the Conquerer, Windsor serves as a part-time residence for the royal family. We emerged from our walk through its charming streets to see the trademark Norman tower, built on its highest hill within the walls. Tom, our in-country trip organizer, turned us loose to tour this fabulous place at our leisure. Some of us immediately found the cloister cafe, with its cool monastic vibe, gothic-shaped wooden chairs, and yummy food.

Many of us made our way to the stately St. George’s Chapel, home church of the Order of the Garter, whose banners hang over the choir stalls. The church is built in an exuberant perpendicular gothic style, with high arches and generous stained glass windows.

Of particular note are its elaborate fan vaulting with decorative bosses at the apex. There is a mirror on the nave floor allowing you to see this beautiful feature without having to sprain your neck looking up!

It felt special to be in this sacred space which has been used for many private and public royal events, from baptisms and weddings, to the funerals of many British royalty. 

It also houses the tomb of Henry VIII and Jane Seymour (his wife) as well as the tombs of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip, whose long servant leadership helped preserve the monarchy into the 21st century.

Above all else, this magnificent chapel is still a working Christian community, which celebrates the Eucharist several times a week and Evensong, almost every afternoon in term time.

As absorbing as our Windsor visit was, the group was happy to get back on the bus, into air conditioning. We were grateful for a chance to rest after a day which, for most of us, had started in Cleveland at noon the day before.

Yamush navigated our bus skillfully up the M4 through the North Wiltshire countryside toward Somerset, where Bath is located (a two-hour drive). The friendly chatter on the bus subsided as fatigue found its way among us. It is 5:15 p.m., but the sun is still much higher in the sky than at home, though our bodies are craving a shower and a bed.

Woven through the hours of this wondrous first day were memorable moments of mutual storytelling. I became acquainted with Karen, a soprano in the choir and her sister Kris (who lives in North Carolina). They were raised by musical parents in Wooster, Ohio, and each of them has carried that love into adulthood. Karen is thrilled to be singing in a choir of such lofty ability.

I enjoyed meeting Jonathan, a bass in the choir, who just graduated from Oberlin College. He is carrying along his “practice guitar,” which will be keeping his jazz scales and licks fresh during this trip.

Having just graduated from Oberlin, Jonathan has many thoughts about what comes next—-whether doing some farming, becoming a Peace Corps volunteer or doing advance work in chemistry.

Jonathan, Karen, Rowan, and every choir member I have met so far are bringing wide open hearts to this experience. All are awed by the honor of singing in these great houses of worship and are ready to offer their gifts to God and the spiritual communities they will serve over the next 10 days.

Along with being accomplished musicians, Kevin Jones and his choir are clearly also a community, caring for and looking out for each other. I feel privileged to be rolling down this road along with them.

Our bus just pulled up to our hotel in Bath. Time for showers and change of clothes and welcome dinner.

Until tomorrow,

Greg+