Possibly the most beautiful photo of tour

This photo was taken by Heather Thomas at Oxford. I love it. The Holy Family are hidden away, beneath the Altar, in much the same way as they would have been hidden away in a stable, two millennia ago in Bethlehem. But the focus is on them because of the sensitive lighting. Then the link to the Altar itself, where the great sacrament of the Eucharist is celebrated, to me is just perfect. Thanks for letting me have this photo, Heather.

(By the way, it is wonderful to have Heather and David as tour Grandies. I particularly delight in their company over wine at meals, and Heather's continual search for adequate wifi. She is now discovering the joys of Messenger.

Such fun.)

Cxx

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The Big One, St Paul’s

Dear Reader Today was the Big Event of tour. St Paul’s Cathedral, London. If you are observant, you will notice my absence from the photo above, along with several of my colleagues. Sadly, this happened. After nearly four years and six vaccinations I finally succumbed to the dreaded Covid. At the worst possible time. My multiple vax status has meant I only feel a bit rotten, like a cold, but I do feel sad to have missed the day. And to miss Windsor tomorrow. I was grateful for the considered medical advice provided by Dr Ritesh, father of one of the trebles, who also updated my supply of paracetamol and ibuprofen. So I am relying on others for the report about this special day. The good bits started with four of the young Lay Clerks heading to St Paul’s for singing lessons with my friend Patrick Craig, who is an Alto Lay Vicar at St Paul. In have yet to hear from Nicholas, Marco, Charlie or James, but Patrick was very complimentary about their singing. This is w...

No phones in the Choir Stalls, but…

Dear Reader Mobile phone use in the Choir Stalls is generally frowned upon. But in Salisbury they have landlines. Thanks to Annabel Crompton for capturing this image. Cxx

The big day in York

Dear Reader We are currently on the road to London via Windsor Castle. So I have time for an update about our big day yesterday. It was such a big day that I had my best night’s sleep last night, so was not awake to do my usual 5am blog post. This, Dear Reader, explains the concept of a Big Day for us. We are accustomed to singing two services on a Sunday, starting at 9:15am and finishing at 7:15pm. But we get a break for over 4 hours in between. Yesterday we started with a warm up and rehearsal at around 8:45am, then two services essentially back to back. We don’t sing Matins, apart from one attempt after a previous tour. Perhaps we could do a quarterly Matins, Ant?? Once a term? The choristers and Lay Clerks then get a two hour break before the next rehearsal at 2:30 for the 4pm Evensong. Matins has no sermon but both the Eucharists and Evensong in York had sermons, which were excellent. The observation for Epiphany that we, the Choir, were travellers from the East was notable....

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