Saturday 16 November saw quite a special event: a full-day Festival Gathering which was the first event jointly organised by The Prayer Society (PBS) and Cathedral Music Trust, at St Bartholomew the Great in the City of London (a corporate member of PBS) and, with as many as 112 attendees, what a festive occasion it was!
After coffee in the Cloister, we had a most inspiring service of Choral Mattins sung by the professional choir of St Bart’s conducted by the Director of Music, Rupert Gough, with Responses by Joanna Forbes L’Estrange, Britten’s Festival Te Deum in E and Walton’s Jubilate, together with an anthem commissioned only last year for the church’s 900-year celebrations: God is Here, by Sir John Rutter, setting words taken from the church’s Book of Foundation. Fr Jeremy Haselock’s sermon on the nature and history of Mattins was quite fascinating and what a joy it was to hear not only the words of the Book of Common Prayer but also lessons read from the King James Bible (read by PBS Chairman, Bradley Smith and the CEO of Cathedral Music Trust, Jonathan Mayes). All concluding with a stunning voluntary by organist James Norrey: Paean by Kenneth Leighton.
Photo: Bradley Smith (Chairman, The Prayer Book Society), Jonathan Mayes (CEO, Cathedral Music Trust, Victoria McDougall (Development Director, Cathedral Music Trust), Mark Bellis (Regional Coordinator, South and East, Cathedral Music Trust), Fi Rosen (Secretary, The Prayer Book Society)
We were then treated to a most interesting talk from Rupert Gough on the history of the music at this wonderful church, followed by an organ recital by James Norrey, who dazzled us with Boellmann’s Suite Gothique, Aria by Flor Peeters and (surely one of the most difficult organ pieces in the repertoire) Prelude et Fugue sur le nom d’Alain by Duruflé.
After lunch we resumed with a most informative talk from Head Verger Gordon Furry about the history of this very remarkable 901 year-old-building, followed by another address, this time from Thomas Allery, Director of Music at The Temple Church, who has made quite a study of the history of Music in the City Churches – see his 90 min YouTube documentary, Sounds of the Square Mile – absolutely fascinating!
Then we had time to look around this extraordinary church, furnished with complimentary guide books (thank you, Fr Marcus!) before a memorable service of Choral Evensong, sung by the East London Evensong Choir conducted by Jonathan Pease. After James’s lovely introductory voluntary, Psalm Prelude, Set 1, No2 by Howells, other music included Peter Nardone’s Responses, Heathcote Statham’s Evening Service in E minor, and the familiar Howells anthem, Like as the Hart. Readers were Isobel Pinder (Trustee, Cathedral Music Trust) and Fi Rosen (Secretary, PBS). As at Mattins, the Rector, Fr Marcus Walker, was the officiant and his sermon, delivered from on high from the pulpit in the old organ loft, was a typically inspiring and forthright clarion call to both our organisations. James’s suitably festive final voluntary was the ever-popular Tuba Tune by Norman Cocker.
Finally, there was a Wine Reception in the Cloister, with the opportunity to meet old friends and indeed, the delight of making new acquaintances from a different charity. Attendees were very keen that there should be future joint events so we sincerely hope The Prayer Book Society and Cathedral Music Trust will be able to collaborate again before too long!
by Dr Mark Bellis
Regional Coordinator (South and East), Cathedral Music Trust
