their flocks? Traditionally, men and women of the cloth are perceived as pious beings who devote their entire lives to the work of God with neither time nor thought for anything else. But as one clergyman pointed out, "We're human beings too. We have other interests.'' Today, we begin a new series, The Clergy and their Hobbies, in which we'll go behind the collars and learn about their favourite pastimes.

*** Pulpits and phalaenopsis are synonymous as far as Rev. David Chisling is concerned, for this latter-day orchid lover takes much pleasure in decorating the sanctuary of his church -- Emmanuel Methodist in Southampton -- with these exotic blooms.

Before he arrived in Bermuda, Rev. Chisling had only a passing admiration for orchids, but thanks to a member of his congregation who conveniently has an orchid business across the street from his church and home, the clergyman is now well and truly hooked on his new hobby.

"The first orchid I ever saw was 25 years ago when I worked as recreation director on the cruise ship Gripsholm, '' he related. "In Madeira there was a woman on a street corner selling great long stalks of cymbidiums and I thought how beautiful they were. In the Far East and Africa I would see orchids on the tour we did, and always in the back of my mind it was something I wanted to do, but as a Nova Scotian I never thought you could grow them in a cold climate, even indoors because it would be too hot and dry.

"At Emmanuel, Graham and Muriel Madeiros used to lend me orchid plants to put in the church and they were absolutely gorgeous. He then encouraged me to take a couple home and look after them. That was 14 months ago, and my first-year plants are in their second year and blooming,'' he said proudly. "I have about 45 in my collection.'' At $40-$50 per plant, Rev. Chisling eventually decided he would either have to narrow his focus or go broke, so he elected to concentrate on cattleyas -- or what he calls "corsage orchids''-- although he also owns oncidiums, dendrobiums and cymbidiums.

"I have about eight or nine different colours, and I grow them in my home on a Bermuda stone shelf in the hallway, which means I can water them without a hassle,'' he related.

One of his greatest pleasures is coming down that hallway in the morning to be greeted by the heady scent of his collection -- "they have an absolutely gorgeous aroma; usually you can smell them before you see them''.

Indeed, Rev. Chisling speaks of his plants almost as if they were progeny, and he treats them with the same loving care.

"They become very personal. You just know what they need and there are tremendous rewards in these beautiful flowers,'' he said. "They respond to your caring and are very patient with you.'' Firmly acknowledging his novice status, Rev. Chisling intends to know all there is to know about his specialty in the fullness of time. He subscribes to orchid publications and is busy learning all the Latin names of the various species. He has also become an enthusiastic member of the Bermuda Orchid Society.

"What I like about the Orchid Society is that everyone is so helpful. If you feel comfortable asking questions on how to do things I think you can do anything. If people will tell the truth when you ask a question they will respect you for your uniqueness and interest. I used to teach school and that was the way I dealt with my students. You could never hold back a child who was persistent and knew how to ask questions. It's the same with me. I am a child again with these orchids. I gravitate to people who will help me.'' Despite the visual delicacy of the blooms, Rev. Chisling says that, in nature, orchids are epiphytic (living on rocks and trees) and therefore hardy, but due to the damaging high winds and salt spray which prevail on the hill where he lives, he chooses to keep his collection indoors.

"As a novice collector, my plants represent quite an investment, so I bring them inside,'' he explained.

Even indoors, he says orchids have a lot of enemies, including mould, mealybugs and cockroaches. Part of the fight includes swabbing them with alcohol.

"You constantly have to look after the plants. For me it's a daily thing to check the leaves and buds. I also move them back and forth.'' In purchasing his orchids Rev. Chisling has deliberately staggered his collection so that the blooming pattern -- and therefore the pleasure he derives from it -- is extended.

Nonetheless, growing orchids is not a fast-track hobby. It is truly a case where patience is a virtue because most plants only bloom once a year, and flower life is relatively short.

The lessons given by his early mentors, the Madeiros', have been well learned.

Today, Rev. Chisling not only uses his blooms to decorate the sanctuary of his church, but enjoys showing them off at personal dinner parties.

"I do a lot of overseas weddings at Emmanuel so I am always taking my orchids down to the church. I also put them on the communion table,'' he related.

"And when we have guests for dinner, I use them to decorate the table.'' Attractive though the blooms may be, there's no denying that the bottom end of the orchid plants is not, which gives Rev. Chisling another avenue to his hobby -- choosing cachepots to camouflage the roots and boxes.

"Presentation is important,'' he assured. "For dinner parties I also add a little Spanish moss and the right candles. Orchids are absolutely spectacular when they do what you want them to do.'' Like many hobbies, orchids have exposed Rev. Chisling to a network of fellow collectors, from whom he has learned much.

"What I like about collectors here is that they are very open and giving with their information. They take the hobby seriously but they don't make you feel like you are intruding. They really are very kind.'' Apart from the sheer beauty of orchids, Rev. Chisling says his hobby is also proving the perfect antidote to a very demanding profession.

"There are parts of my work here which are very, very stressful, and orchids are a way to relax because you have to look after them. It's not hard to do and there's also mystery involved. I love it.'' So much so, in fact, that he has already signed up to attend the World Orchid Congress in Glasgow, Scotland in 1993.

BLOOMIN' LOVELY! -- Rev. David Chisling proudly displays some of the exotic blooms from his orchid collection. Encouraged by a member of his congregation, the clergyman has taken up the hobby since arriving in Bermuda.