Serving God in the heart of our community since 1881

St Andrew's Church, Taunton

Policemen, Angels and a Saint

Holiday reading set in Venice, recommended by Katharine Smith

A Venetian was once asked why he never travelled.  “Why should I travel” he replied “when I am already here?”.

Having visited  Venice or “Serenissima” several times over the last couple of years I think I know what he meant. 

Venice is a captivating city, achingly beautiful with its canals, bridges, churches and palaces.  With every corner you turn and every bridge you cross she shows you a new picture of herself and leaves you wondering about the extraordinary relationship that exists here between man and nature.  Why would you want to be anywhere else?

Policeman

Having fallen in love with the city Adrian and I look out for books set in Venice so that we can savour its atmosphere from a distance.  We were very pleased to find a series of detective novels written by Donna Leon featuring a detective named Guido Brunetti. 

Even if you’re not interested in Venice, these books are ideal for holiday reading.  Brunetti and his wife Paola live with their son and daughter, Raffi and Chiara, in an apartment close to the Grand Canal.  Donna Leon writes about them with warmth and humour so that they become like good friends,

Brunetti’s colleagues in the Venetian police are also vividly portrayed’ the crimes they have to investigate are always intriguing and it’s easy to get caught up in the plot and the hunt for some pretty nasty criminals.

The first in the series of books is “Death at La Fenice”.  There are 13 books in paperback and one just published in hardback so if you like the first one as an appetizer there’s quite a feast ahead of you  -  enjoy!

Angel

“Miss Garnet’s Angel” by Salley Vickers has been reviewed in Andy’s Angle before and it’s available from the Parish Library.

It’s an enchanting story of an elderly lady, Julia Garnet, who decides to spend six months in Venice following a bereavement. 

The book tells of her stay and how she adjusts to her new life.  It also tells of the unfolding and flowering of her inner spirit as she discovers her true self, her ability to love and be loved and her spiritual awareness. 

Interwoven through the book there is also a re-telling of the story of Tobit, an Apocryphal book of the bible, which is linked to Miss Garnet’s story by the angel Raphael.  Also written with warmth and humour this book is a delight and a real treat to read

MARK - The Saint of Venice

Legend has it that while sailing to Rome, St Mark was driven by a storm into what is now the lagoon of Venice. 

His boat ran aground and in his exhaustion Mark dreamt that he saw an angel who said to him that he would live a long life although he would bear many trials in Christ’s name,

The angel also said that after Mark’s death a great city would be built where he now rested and that his body would be buried and venerated there.

In the 9^th century Venetians stole the saint’s body from Alexandria and brought it to Venice thus fulfilling the prophecy.  St Mark’s symbol has always been a lion and all over Venice can be seen images of a lion, often winged.

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