Sunday 17 November, designated ‘Celebration Sunday’ by the Trust, provided an opportunity for the many cathedrals and churches who have received a grant this year to celebrate the award and mention and pray for the work of the Trust. Living in York, I was spoilt for choice, as I could easily have attended services in five different places!
In the morning, I visited Bradford Cathedral, where I was welcomed as warmly as ever and treated to an excellent Choral Eucharist with music by Jackson, Stanford and Byrd. The girls were in very fine voice and well matched by a tuneful back row. The award of £15,000 was given to support the appointment of three professional Lay Clerks. Two of the three are already in situ with the other one joining after Christmas. After the service, I had time to chat with alto Carole and bass Robert, both of whom are very pleased to be involved with the choir. Carole’s interview is well worth reading.
Over coffee I had time to chat with Director of Music, Graham Thorpe who is also one of our Future Leaders. He was delighted to tell me that he will have a full-time Assistant from January, William Campbell, who is moving from Leeds Cathedral. Cathedral Music Trust was well mentioned throughout the service in notices and prayers. Both the Dean, the Very Revd Andy Bowerman, and the Canon for Worship and Nurture, Revd Pete Gunstone, are clearly very supportive of all that is going on in the music department.
With a full range of choirs: boys, girls, junior choral scholars, lay clerks and choral scholars, a voluntary choir and a children’s choir called Grace Notes, plus regular Wednesday lunchtime organ recitals, music in Bradford Cathedral is clearly flourishing.
In the evening, I attended St Lawrence Parish Church in York, where the music is thriving. I enjoyed an excellent Choral Evensong with music by Ireland, Howells and Leighton. Director of Music, Jonty Ward, has attracted an excellent, auditioned but voluntary, choir of between twenty and thirty young people, many of whom are university students, which sings for Choral Evensong in term-time. In addition, there is a children’s choir comprising pupils from local schools who sing alongside some of the adults for other services. The Church Choir Award from CMT has been instrumental in the development of the choirs and the recent introduction of a midweek sung service. I shall look forward to attending further services at St Lawrence Parish Church.
The photo from Bradford Cathedral shows from left to right: The Dean, Robert, me, Graham, Carole and Revd Pete Gunstone.
by Rosemary Downey, Regional Coordinator for the North and West of England, and Wales.
