On Sunday 10th September, at 3pm, Newport Cathedral Choir had the priviledge of singing at a service of Vespers in the glorious setting of Tintern Abbey. A Welsh national icon, the Abbey, which stands in splendour on the banks of the river Wye, was founded in 1131 by Cistercian monks.
The annual service of Vespers is organised by the Friends of Our Lady of Tintern and the Office used is for the festival of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary; historically celebrated in both Eastern and Western Christendom on or near the 8th September.
The service was led by Bishop Dominic Walker, OGS. The homily was given by the Right Revd Cherry Vann, Bishop of Monmouth and the Rt Revd Paul Stonham, OSB, Abbot of Belmont read from the Rule of St Benedict.
Psalms, responses, the Magnficat and the Salve Regina were all sung to plainsong settings and congregational hymns included “Ye who own the faith of Jesus” and a specially written hymn “Lady of Tintern”.
The anthems sung by the choir were a new setting of “Make me a channel of your peace” written by Bishop Cherry and Stanford’s “O for a closer walk with God”.
Alongside her role as Director of Music at Newport Cathedral, Emma Gibbins is the Trust's new Local Contact for Newport.