Drumming at Dode

Dode is a place of a million stories, I’ve said it before and no doubt I’ll say it again!

Here’s another:

It was a January evening in 1995 or perhaps ‘96, Colin and I were sitting quietly chatting in the dimly lit church, a few candles providing the only illumination (no electricity yet) when there was a gentle knock on the new door.

Surprised, because we had heard no vehicle pull up, I opened it to meet, for the first time, a young man who was to become a regular, and now permanent, inhabitant of Dode.

He introduced himself as Ananda and asked if he might look around. At the end of his tour he asked if he would be able to ‘make a little contribution’.

What happened next I will remember for ever. By now, in the virtual darkness, he stood at the chancel steps and began to chant. Hauntingly it filled the space, perhaps unoccupied by a solo voice for over 600 years.

He left, leaving a telephone number (no emails yet). I subsequently learnt that it was a Taize chant, that Ananda means bliss and he was of the Baha’i faith (those early days were a steep learning curve).

Ananda formed a drumming group, preforming regularly at Dode but sadly he died in 2002 at the tragically young age of 46, and the drumming died with him.

He was much missed and his ashes lie sheltered beneath a willow tree, planted by his mother, beside our pond.

Attempts to reform the group as a regular feature failed but a new initiative, spearheaded by a member of our little community, Christine Eatwell is underway, it is something that we are very much looking forward to.

Irrespective of whether you’re an accomplished drummer or looking for something new and you would like to partake and become a member of the new circle, in a very special, sacred place, just contact us via the contact form below. Our first drumming session starts on April 13th, 6:30pm in Dode Church.

Bright Blessings - Doug.