In the impressive surroundings of the Chapel Royal at Hampton Court Palace, Jasper Pike won the Cranmer Award recently.

Jasper, a student at Wisbech Grammar School, beat nine other competitors from around the country to take the Junior section first place and a cheque for £250.00.

The Cranmer Awards are an annual competition run by the Prayer Book Society. Competitors memorise and recite up to five minutes of text from the Book of Common Prayer.

Jasper, who is a chorister at Sandringham Church and a Norwich Diocese Organ Scholar, chose the Morning Prayer, Benedictus, The Apostles’ Creed and the Gospel for Christmas Day for his entry. Supported by his mother and father, Jasper received his prize from Canon Anthony Howe the Chaplain and Deputy Priest in Ordinary for the Chapel Royal.

The Prayer Book Society is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2022. Bradley Smith, the PBS’ chairman said, “The Book of Common Prayer remains as relevant today as it was when it was first compiled. It’s a powerful and wonderful thing to hear young people reciting substantial passages mainly of scripture and the competitors really enjoy the experience,” he said.

The regional heats of the 2023 Cranmer Awards will take place later in the year.