Ely Christmas & Candlemas: The Dean’s Watch

Wintery scenes from the cathedral and songs from the book

Ely Cathedral covered in snow. Photo from Ely Cathedral.org

“As he closed the garden door behind him he stood in amazement. He had stepped not into the expected darkness but into light. It was neither the sun nor moon but of the snow. The sky was a cold clear green behind the dark mass of the Cathedral...

The snow was not deep but it covered the garden with light... He walked slowly through the garden in awe and joy, thinking of the myriad of snowflakes under his feet, each a cluster of beautiful shapes of stars and flowers and leaves, all too small to be seen by any eye except that of their Creator, yet each giving light... Almighty God had been so small, as small as the crystal of a snowflake in comparison with the universe that He had made. ‘Such light!” murmured the Dean as he opened the door into the Cathedral. ‘Such light!’”

The Dean’s Watch, ch 17

Ely Cathedral at Christmas. Photo from Ely Cathedral.org

Ely Cathedral at Candlemas. Photo from Ely Cathedral.org

Ely Cathedral at Candlemas. Photo from Ely Cathedral.org

An angel in Ely. Photo from Ely Cathedral.org

From the National Gallery

The Adoration of the Shepherds, Rembrandt, which Goudge mentions on the first page of The Dean’s Watch.

My US edition of The Dean’s Watch in the snow in our garden.

Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, mentioned in chapter 16, The Cathedral

Te Deum Laudamus, which is sung just before the Dean’s last sermon in chapter 17, Christmas.

Thanks for joining me! Love to hear any more thoughts you have on The Dean tomorrow on our live book chat! (See yesterday’s week 4 post for details.)