OK, so I’ve been mistaken for a priest, and like a fool I went along with it –and now of course, it’s too late to back out. In a way I’m not too worried:

First, I may not be here that long – I almost expect to be sent somewhere else within a month or so.

Second, I think I can fool them – my Dad was a clergyman, which isn’t the same, I realise as being a priest here, but I have some idea of how to comport myself in a priestly way, and some idea about worship – even if I don’t actually believe any of it myself.

I’m not sure of the date (the locals here wouldn’t have any concept, I don’t think – and how do you bring it up, anyway?) but I assume we’re in the 10^th – 12^th centuries (but that’s a wild guess) – anyway, before the Reformation, so this is a Roman Catholic church, and everything is in Latin. That plays to my advantage, because I can say things in church which the locals won’t understand. I have to be a bit careful, obviously, because even if they don’t speak Latin, some words would be familiar. That’s where the internet has been so useful, as I’ve managed to get Latin services there. There aren’t any books here – not even a Bible – but fortunately I’ve got the wristpad, so I’ve just downloaded the words I need, and scroll through them as the service progresses. Well, it’s worked OK so far.

My major concern, obviously, is meeting another priest, or even a member of the nobility, who’ll know what I’m saying, and will, I suspect, see through me pretty fast. I suspect that imitating a priest – particularly leading eucharists – is probably heresy. And they burn heretics here, don’t they?

Still, at the moment I’ve got a roof over my head, and food in my belly (it’s staying down now, fortunately) so I’m just going to keep going as I am, at least until I get a better plan.