Graham
@parishrecluse.bsky.social
Perquackey enthusiast. Formerly of tidewater Maryland. Anglican (TEC). Avoider of coffee hour. Interested in history, music, religion, politics, & where they intersect. ⚓️🏳️🌈
Pinned
Graham
@parishrecluse.bsky.social
· Nov 17
For the weekday crowd: An account of the life of a loyalist parson in Virginia in the 1770s
open.substack.com/pub/tidewate...
open.substack.com/pub/tidewate...
Reposted by Graham
A chancel floor cross at Sandringham, Norfolk where the coffin of the Duke of Clarence lay in state #OTD 15 January 1892. He'd died the day before aged 28. The same marker was used for Queen Alexandra in 1925, other markers represent George V and VI.
More: www.norfolkchurches.co.uk/sandringham/...
More: www.norfolkchurches.co.uk/sandringham/...
January 15, 2026 at 11:07 AM
A chancel floor cross at Sandringham, Norfolk where the coffin of the Duke of Clarence lay in state #OTD 15 January 1892. He'd died the day before aged 28. The same marker was used for Queen Alexandra in 1925, other markers represent George V and VI.
More: www.norfolkchurches.co.uk/sandringham/...
More: www.norfolkchurches.co.uk/sandringham/...
As I was telling a friend earlier:
January 15, 2026 at 4:27 AM
As I was telling a friend earlier:
Unknown Artist ~ Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (1899)
YouTube video by Thamalka Nilakshana
youtu.be
January 11, 2026 at 12:34 AM
Still thinking about how nice it was to visit a Baltimore parish a couple of times over Christmas. 150 years ago, some of my ancestors lived within a short walk of Grace & St. Peter’s. (Though I think that those who were Anglicans at the time belonged to Emmanuel.)
January 10, 2026 at 3:48 PM
Still thinking about how nice it was to visit a Baltimore parish a couple of times over Christmas. 150 years ago, some of my ancestors lived within a short walk of Grace & St. Peter’s. (Though I think that those who were Anglicans at the time belonged to Emmanuel.)
The latest installment in Father Denroche's long series of "Mr. Oldchurch" lectures. In this one, he addresses vestments. ⚓
Father Denroche's Fourth "Mr. Oldchurch" Lecture
On Vestments
open.substack.com
January 9, 2026 at 1:54 AM
The latest installment in Father Denroche's long series of "Mr. Oldchurch" lectures. In this one, he addresses vestments. ⚓
Sometimes I really feel like I just can’t bear this anymore. The state-sanctioned murders. The diplomatic rupture with our allies. The thinly-veiled piracy. (Even while I acknowledge that Maduro is awful.) The blatant perversion of Christianity for ill purposes. It’s all so depressing.
January 7, 2026 at 11:14 PM
Sometimes I really feel like I just can’t bear this anymore. The state-sanctioned murders. The diplomatic rupture with our allies. The thinly-veiled piracy. (Even while I acknowledge that Maduro is awful.) The blatant perversion of Christianity for ill purposes. It’s all so depressing.
A friendly reminder that it is still Christmas
January 4, 2026 at 2:01 PM
A friendly reminder that it is still Christmas
I’ve been doing a bit of research on Rev’d R. W. Goldsborough, who was responsible for the construction of St. Paul’s, Hillsboro (MD) in the 1850s. Only sporadically used by a regular Episcopal congregation between the 1950s and 1990s, it now houses St. Thekla’s Orthodox Church.
December 23, 2025 at 10:02 PM
I’ve been doing a bit of research on Rev’d R. W. Goldsborough, who was responsible for the construction of St. Paul’s, Hillsboro (MD) in the 1850s. Only sporadically used by a regular Episcopal congregation between the 1950s and 1990s, it now houses St. Thekla’s Orthodox Church.
I was glad finally to have had an opportunity to visit Grace & St. Peter’s in Baltimore last Sunday. Very different from what I’m accustomed to, but beautifully and reverently done, and with a good sermon. It was also lovely to meet @uncouthyank.bsky.social.
December 23, 2025 at 9:56 PM
I was glad finally to have had an opportunity to visit Grace & St. Peter’s in Baltimore last Sunday. Very different from what I’m accustomed to, but beautifully and reverently done, and with a good sermon. It was also lovely to meet @uncouthyank.bsky.social.
Of COURSE I had to stop at the used bookshop when I was in Chestertown earlier. The Wilstach volume on Tidewater Virginia is a signed, limited edition. 🥴
December 23, 2025 at 9:52 PM
Of COURSE I had to stop at the used bookshop when I was in Chestertown earlier. The Wilstach volume on Tidewater Virginia is a signed, limited edition. 🥴
Baltimore, I am in you.
December 21, 2025 at 2:54 PM
Baltimore, I am in you.
Reposted by Graham
"megachurches are shen yun for white people" is an incredible and damning true statement
for all people make fun of falun gong, it's wild how much this is basically the same thing as shen yun
December 19, 2025 at 11:08 PM
"megachurches are shen yun for white people" is an incredible and damning true statement
One last lecture from Father Denroche’s fictional “Mr Oldchurch” (on forms of prayer) before a Christmas hiatus. ⚓
open.substack.com/pub/tidewate...
open.substack.com/pub/tidewate...
Father Denroche's Second "Mr. Oldchurch" Lecture
On Forms of Prayer
open.substack.com
December 18, 2025 at 1:49 AM
One last lecture from Father Denroche’s fictional “Mr Oldchurch” (on forms of prayer) before a Christmas hiatus. ⚓
open.substack.com/pub/tidewate...
open.substack.com/pub/tidewate...
Yesterday’s snow ended early enough that I managed to shovel the drive around 10 p.m. Thought I’d be present for Advent 3 this morning, but some sort of stomach bug presented itself in the intervening hours, so I don’t think I’m going anywhere today.
December 14, 2025 at 11:27 AM
Yesterday’s snow ended early enough that I managed to shovel the drive around 10 p.m. Thought I’d be present for Advent 3 this morning, but some sort of stomach bug presented itself in the intervening hours, so I don’t think I’m going anywhere today.
Before Christmas comes too near, here is the first of Father Denroche's "Mr. Oldchurch" lectures, as originally published in The Easton Churchman in two parts in February & March 1903. Further installments will follow in the new year.
Link in comments. ⚓
Link in comments. ⚓
December 13, 2025 at 10:19 PM
Before Christmas comes too near, here is the first of Father Denroche's "Mr. Oldchurch" lectures, as originally published in The Easton Churchman in two parts in February & March 1903. Further installments will follow in the new year.
Link in comments. ⚓
Link in comments. ⚓
Nice sky this morning.
December 9, 2025 at 1:09 PM
Nice sky this morning.
Words from Parson Ogilvie not inappropriate for the season of Advent ⚓
open.substack.com/pub/tidewate...
open.substack.com/pub/tidewate...
December 8, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Words from Parson Ogilvie not inappropriate for the season of Advent ⚓
open.substack.com/pub/tidewate...
open.substack.com/pub/tidewate...
Since @frutledge.bsky.social is rarely on Bluesky these days, I hope she won’t mind that I share this, which she posted over on the other site. Too good not to share.
December 7, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Since @frutledge.bsky.social is rarely on Bluesky these days, I hope she won’t mind that I share this, which she posted over on the other site. Too good not to share.
Reposted by Graham
You brood of vipers! Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees! How would you like to get that on a Christmas card! But there it is, and this is John the Baptist’s day.
--Fleming Rutledge
The John the Baptist window, Messiah, St. Paul ⚓
--Fleming Rutledge
The John the Baptist window, Messiah, St. Paul ⚓
December 7, 2025 at 12:37 PM
You brood of vipers! Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees! How would you like to get that on a Christmas card! But there it is, and this is John the Baptist’s day.
--Fleming Rutledge
The John the Baptist window, Messiah, St. Paul ⚓
--Fleming Rutledge
The John the Baptist window, Messiah, St. Paul ⚓
Reposted by Graham
Father Denroche on the Holy Communion:
“Those who are allowed to call themselves worthy communicants for Christ’s dear sake, are such as know themselves to be poor, in religious work; maimed, in religious aspirations; lame, in righteous walk; halt, in spiritual efforts;… 1/6
“Those who are allowed to call themselves worthy communicants for Christ’s dear sake, are such as know themselves to be poor, in religious work; maimed, in religious aspirations; lame, in righteous walk; halt, in spiritual efforts;… 1/6
November 30, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Father Denroche on the Holy Communion:
“Those who are allowed to call themselves worthy communicants for Christ’s dear sake, are such as know themselves to be poor, in religious work; maimed, in religious aspirations; lame, in righteous walk; halt, in spiritual efforts;… 1/6
“Those who are allowed to call themselves worthy communicants for Christ’s dear sake, are such as know themselves to be poor, in religious work; maimed, in religious aspirations; lame, in righteous walk; halt, in spiritual efforts;… 1/6
Our Lessons & Carols service is today. I always go, but I struggle to get through Silent Night without starting to cry. My grandmother died on December 19 when I was 20 & her funeral was held on the 21st, so we sang it at the service. It has caught in my throat ever since because of the association.
December 7, 2025 at 12:32 PM
Our Lessons & Carols service is today. I always go, but I struggle to get through Silent Night without starting to cry. My grandmother died on December 19 when I was 20 & her funeral was held on the 21st, so we sang it at the service. It has caught in my throat ever since because of the association.
The first in an occasional series in which I re-publish the essays Fr. Christopher Denroche (1834-1906) contributed to the Diocese of Easton’s diocesan newspaper between 1903 and 1906. This week: a minor skirmish on the subject of the forgiveness of sins. (Link in comments.)
December 7, 2025 at 1:24 AM
The first in an occasional series in which I re-publish the essays Fr. Christopher Denroche (1834-1906) contributed to the Diocese of Easton’s diocesan newspaper between 1903 and 1906. This week: a minor skirmish on the subject of the forgiveness of sins. (Link in comments.)
The church looked nice in the snow as I walked over to fold bulletins yesterday after work.
December 5, 2025 at 8:23 PM
The church looked nice in the snow as I walked over to fold bulletins yesterday after work.
Glad to be working from home today. It was 10°F/-12°C when I woke up this morning. (I do have to go shopping later, though…)
December 5, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Glad to be working from home today. It was 10°F/-12°C when I woke up this morning. (I do have to go shopping later, though…)