In May, over 100 Cathedral Music Trust supporters, staff, and volunteers spent a weekend exploring the music of three of the most stunning cathedrals and churches the North East has to offer: Newcastle Cathedral, Hexham Abbey, and Durham Cathedral.
On Friday afternoon we gathered at Newcastle, and gave a warm welcome to our CEO JJ, completing the first leg of his cycle challenge, pedalling in from Durham! Following our own warm welcome from Revd Canon Ruth Hulse (Canon for Worship and Congregational Life), we were treated to a tour of the historic cathedral, a talk about music at Newcastle from their Director of Music, Ian Roberts, and a virtuosic organ recital given by Kris Thomsett (Assistant Director of Music) and James Watson (Organ Scholar). A generous cream tea, from Café 16, led us into an open rehearsal and evensong in the intimate and beautiful Quire. We then crossed the river to the impressive Glasshouse International Centre for Music in Gateshead for a concert of Ravel’s music by the Royal Northern Sinfonia. With a virtuosic piano concerto by Steven Osbourne, and the ever-beautiful Mother Goose suite, it was an awe-inspiring end to a wonderful day.
We arrived in Hexham by coach on Saturday morning, collectively amazed by our first view of the stunning Abbey which, despite its grandeur, serves as a local parish church. You could have fooled us, not just from its scale, but from the quality of the music produced therein! After a warm welcome and tour, we were treated to a concert of sacred choral music that showcased the impressive work being led by Michael Haynes (Director of Music) in fostering singing with children and adults. A quadruple bill of Stanford, Parry’s I Was Glad, and the beautiful Cantique de Jean Racine was accompanied beautifully on the Abbey’s Phelps Organ by Matthew Kelly (Assistant Director of Music). Returning to Newcastle for evensong, we then held our gathering dinner in the candlelit cathedral nave. Not only was the dinner a feast, with the opportunity to meet and speak with other gathering attendees and cathedral staff, but we enjoyed stunning in-dinner entertainment from the cathedral choir clerks, including a rendition of Abba’s Thank You For The Music! The evening concluded as we processed back into the quire, for a beautiful compline service, granting us a quiet night, and the perfect end to a wonderful day.
We returned to Newcastle Cathedral for the final time for their sung Sunday Eucharist. Set with collegiate style seating facing across the nave aisle, with the intersessions at the West end and the altar and choir in the East, this was a wonderful aural contrast to evensong in the Quire. We then made our way to Durham, the final destination for our weekend. On arrival at the cathedral we were met with a wonderful lunch in the Chapter House and Priors’ Hall, and the chance to explore these beautiful cloisters as we made our way towards the Cathedral.
We were welcomed into the Cathedral by impressively knowledgeable volunteer guides, and shown around their vast nave, and given a tour of the Galilee Chapel, including the shrine and relics of the Venerable Bede, Langley Tomb, and Stella Maris window. Moving into the Quire as the choir rehearsed under the direction of Daniel Cook (Master of Choristers & Organist), we were treated to Tompkins responses, Shepherd’s Ye Choirs of New Jerusalem, and the classic Howells setting of the Canticles: St Paul’s Service. Returning to the Chapter House, we mingled with the choir, music and education teams of the cathedral, and had the chance to say our goodbyes. Our Chair of Trustees, Jonathan MacDonald, gave a poignant speech, reminding the young choristers of the importance of their singing to the life of the cathedral and sustenance of the musical tradition.
Finally, I cannot write this article without extending my thanks to all who contributed to the organisation of this memorable weekend – to Janet (Local Ambassador for Newcastle), Victoria (Future Leader), and of course special thanks to Jean (from the Trust’s Events Working Group) for all of your hard work in planning and facilitating yet another wonderful National Gathering. Thanks also to all the Trust staff, board members and volunteers who attended or supported with organising such an amazing weekend! It was brilliant to have such an enjoyable weekend of sharing and celebrating the transformative power of cathedral music for my first National Gathering since joining Cathedral Music Trust. I am, as I’m sure many of you are, now greatly looking forward to our Autumn National Gathering in Canterbury & Rochester!
I hope to see many of you there. Book your tickets here: Canterbury & Rochester Gathering | Cathedral Music Trust
Hannah Capstick
Volunteer & Events Coordinator
