Terce Prayers (9 am, Jan 2nd)

[Catherine Harrington]

ST GEORGE'S CHAPEL
Located in the Lower Ward, St. George's Chapel was the main place of worship of Windsor Castle, being both a royal peculiar and the chapel of the Order of the Garter. The chapel was built from the 15th to 16th centuries at the castle in the Perpendicular Gothic style, as an expansion and rededication of the 13th century Chapel of St Edward the Confessor. The Chapel of St Edward the Confessor was attached to the second of two religious colleges which were founded in 1348 by King Edward III and rededicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, St Edward the Confessor and St George the Martyr. Edward III also built the Aerary Porch in 1353-1354. It was used as the entrance to the new college.

St George's Chapel became the Mother Church of the Order, where a special service is still held every June and is attended by the members of the order. Their heraldic banners hang above the upper stalls of the choir where they have a seat for life. The silver gilded altar of the chapel was flanked on either side by the seats of the Knights of the Order of the Garter and in the pathway one would find the entrance to the vault that contained the tombs of Henry VIII, Jane Seymour and Charles I.

Much of the chapel was removed to make way for the Lady Chapel, which was then abandoned in favour of building it at Westminster Abbey.

The Choir of St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle has been in existence since 1348 and, with the exception of the Commonwealth period (1649-1660), has sung services in the Chapel continuously ever since. The choir comprises 23 boy choristers (5 of whom are probationers or training choristers) and 12 professional Lay Clerks, singing Countertenor, tenor and bass. The Choir sings daily during term-time.

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The Matins service was a little later than she had hoped, but rising earlier was yet beyond her strength. Still, she had never been one to linger in bed until noon. Thus Catherine arrived just as the morning’s service began.

She had once again donned full mourning, and, looking tiny and pale under all that black, slipped through the icy, misty mourning and into a pew to pray. Despite her efforts to compose her thoughts, they remained a jumble of wishes for the welfare of the Queen’s soul, desperate need for forgiveness for her mother’s death, and pleas that her own time upon the earth was not rapidly drawing to a close. Such an expressive little face could not conceal her inner turmoil from anyone practiced in the art of reading the features of others.

[Althea_Dawes]

Sleep did not come easily to Althea of late. Whether it was melancholy, fear, or blissful anticipation, oblivion often eluded her, and this morning was no exception. With thoughts of yesterday, and anticipation of the evening to come both warring for space in her mind, she had risen, but was not refreshed. She needed space to think, time to consider a life which seemed inclined to a downhill dash with little regard for its passenger. Surely, if one could find no solace elsewhere, one could find it in religion?

Entering the chapel, her eye was immediately drawn to a familiar figure. Slight, almost childlike, a bright splash of hair seemed innocuous against the dull black of her mourning garb. Could it be Catherine? A spark of unalloyed joy lit Althea's soul - it had been so very long since she had spoken properly with her dear little friend, and oh, how she missed her!

Althea's steps made a quick pitter patter through the church, as she moved without hesitation to take a place near Catherine, but not so close that she would intrude upon her friend's solitude. A glance across immediately told her that Catherine, too, warred with some inner grief. Althea should not have been surprised, considering the unrelieved black her friend wore, but her heart swelled with a compassion that helped override her own worries, as she waited for Catherine to notice the chapel had another occupant.

[Catherine Harrington]

Light footfalls broke her reverie in a most pleasing way. For here was a dear friend! Catherine’s green eyes lit with delight and she could not suppress a bright smile for Althea. Her dear face brought tears to the young lady’s eyes, but she blinked them away. Loved ones were so very dear!

Reaching out a hand to Althea in welcome, she spoke in hushed tones, “My dear friend! How wonderful! Please, will you join me?”