Sunday in Christchurch

Sunday morning found us back at the cathedral for worship. The church was very full. It felt like a true community with inclusion of Maori language in the liturgy and a Down’s young woman serving as one of the candle bearers’ in the processions. As always, we loved the music--the organ, of course, but also a very fine men and boys choir. The text for Valentine’s Day was from the Song of Solomon and the thoughtful sermon on love and sex and human relationships.

After church we walked the several blocks to Hagley Park and the Botanic Garden--purportedly one of largest city parks in the world. We lost ourselves in the elaborately planted flower beds, the aromatic rose garden, the many hued hydrangea garden, and several amazing greenhouses. We picked up a “Notable Trees” brochure and hunted down many throughout the garden--each with its own story. Personal favorites: the alpine ash (Eucalyptus delegatensis) which is the largest of its species in NZ and the common oak which was grown from an acorn sent in 1861 to the Rev. Taylor by Queen Victoria to commemorate the death of her husband!

pretty big, huh?!!

It was hard to leave the gardens but we were eager to get to the one-day annual Scottish Festival at the nearby Riccarton Bush. There were displays of highland dancing, pipe band competitions, a parade of “ladies and gentlemen in Victorian and Edwardian clothes, vintage cyclists, and a host of veteran cars.” Participants were of all ages. Chatting with a few kilt clad men, we discovered that not all were of Scottish descent. It reminded us of Kloempen (Klompen?) dancers who are not Dutch and Irish dancers who are not Irish. Just a huge happy community event on the lovely grounds formerly belonging to a Scottish immigrant family. We left with the soulful strains of Amazing Grace played by eight bagpipes and seven drums ringing in our ears.