Spire
On a hill, a bell.
Candles quietly lit.
Vestments donned in reverence,
altar servers ready, incense prepared.
A small procession enters, a priest follows,
here today to celebrate his final Mass.
A few worshippers gathered,
swinging censer passing as they sing,
borne by coloured organ tones.
Meanwhile a family not far away just rising,
is ready for Sunday rest, work or play,
sabbath observance not their way,
while some, in need of something other
than this ordered sacred ritual,
find a different house of prayer
and still more simply stay away.
For a century the spacious building stood,
crowned by tower with stately spire above.
Nowadays it tells another story,
of community, local endeavour,
provision for social need,
for leisure and the arts,
a spire proclaiming
a different kind of holiness at work.