Over 110 members of the PBS and Cathedral Music Trust crowded into the magnificent St Bartholomew the Great in the City of London for the first Festival Gathering organised by the two charities.
The day opened with “a most inspiring service of Choral Mattins sung by the professional choir of St Bart's conducted by the Director of Music, Rupert Gough,” says Dr Mark Bellis, the Regional Coordinator (South and East) Cathedral Music Trust.
The service included 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.
Father Jeremy Haselock's gave a sermon on the nature and history of Mattins with readings from the King James Bible from PBS Chairman, Bradley Smith and the CEO of CMT, Jonathan Mayes. The service concluded with a stunning voluntary by organist James Norrey: Paean by Kenneth Leighton.
The morning included a talk from Rupert Gough on the history of the music at this wonderful church, followed by an organ recital by James Norrey, who dazzled the audience 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.
An 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, started a busy afternoon.
A memorable service of Choral Evensong, sung by the East London Evensong Choir conducted by Jonathan Pease concluded the afternoon. The music included an inspiring introductory voluntary, Psalm Prelude, Set 1, No2 by Howells, Peter Nardone's Responses, Heathcote Statham's Evening Service in E minor, and the familiar Howells anthem, Like as the Hart.
The readers were Isobel Pinder (CMT Trustee) and Fi Rosen (PBS Secretary).
As at Mattins, the Rector, Father 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.
The day finished with 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.
“We’re very keen that there should be future joint events,” says Mark, “So we sincerely hope The Prayer Book Society and Cathedral Music Trust will be able to collaborate again before too long.”
