Today’s first reading was from the 35th Chapter of Isaiah. Isaiah Chapter 35 is quite brief, but it’s one of the loveliest passages in the Bible. Samuel Sebastian Wesley set nearly the whole Chapter to music in his great Anthem “The Wilderness”: of course according to the sonorous cadences of the Bible authorised by King James in the early 17th century. We have the same text most memorably set by Handel in his Messiah.
New Abbot President
Vespers in Elgin Cathedral: Saturday 31 August 2024
Elgin Cathedral was founded by King Alexander II 800 years ago, in the year 1224.
Historic Scotland, who own and maintain the site, have done their best to mark this significant anniversary. But among all the events and promotions, there seems to have been no Christian religious service included anywhere.
An Urquhart Stone come to Pluscarden
As part of its quite radical reorganisation, in view of declining numbers, the Church of Scotland recently closed its long standing parish at Urquhart. Urquhart is a small village some 5 miles or so East of Elgin. There, some time between 1130 and 1150, King David founded a Benedictine Priory, established as a daughter house of Dunfermline Abbey.
St Joseph's Guest House Building Progress 24 August 2024
Monastic Experience Weekend 16 - 19 August 2024
Haydn’s “Creation” at Pluscarden Abbey
Building Progress 6 August 2024
It has been two months since the last report on this web site about our current building operations.
Externally during this time, daily change has become somewhat less dramatic than during the early months of building. Nevertheless, very much work has most certainly been done. Without question our new St. Joseph’s guest house will be a very fine and very substantial building.