Hereford, where the sound rings for four seconds

 Dear Reader

I remember I loved Hereford Cathedral when we visited on the first tour in 2006.

Today I remember why.

The Cathedral is beautiful. The welcome is warm, both spiritually and physically - they have amazing heaters.  

Singing there is amazing. The acoustic is kind and supportive. Actually, it is exciting. The organ is stunning.

Tonight we sang Evensong, with their Precentor canting. The Versicles and Responses were by June Nixon. We sang Roland Martin’s Buffalo Canticles, which we refer to as Buffalo Buffalo Buffalo Buffalo. The anthem was Bob Chilcott’s Still, Still, Still.

But the most significant sing was probably the psalms. Plural.  We sang four of them 147-150.  Ps 147 and Ps 148 were sung to different chants by Charles V Stanford. Ps 149 had an Edward Hopkins chant and Ps 150 was by Philip Marshall. Anthony Hunt is fond of saying the only thing better than a short psalm is a long psalm, and while some of the trebles may disagree, there are many of us who enjoy them.

We sang a hymn tonight as well, so our tag-a-longs got to join in. It was Thou didst leave Thy throne and Thy Kingly Crown, to the tune Margaret. Seemed appropriate, given the beautiful golden crown hanging in Hereford Cathedral.

David’s postlude was Bairstow’s Evening Song. It was particularly beautiful  

Some photos follow. 

The Corona by Simon Beer holds a candle for each Dean. While it represents the Crown of Thorns, for me it also points to Christ the King

A Nativity at St Francis Xavier’s Catholic Church

Our lunch venue was very busy. My research suggests it refers to an intestinal parasite but I could be wrong

The Lunch Crew found a Post Box Topper

It is interesting to see some Cathedrals, such as Worcester, welcome all dogs while Hereford welcomes assistance dogs. 

The Corona

The Cathedral has an Angel Trail, with knitted Angels dotted all around the Cathedral. Children are encouraged to wander around and find them.

These heaters do an amazing job

The Lady Chapel

A memorial to Bishop Swinfield

Detail of the Swinfield Memorial, surrounded by pigs

In the Crypt

High Altar

I loved the Pelican

Shrine of St Thomas

A tiny side chapel

Mappa Mundi

The Wycliffite Bible from 1420, which is also known as the Cider Bible

The Chained Library

In the Song School

When Precentors meet.

The Dean and others live almost within the Cathedral. You pass by her door on the way to the Song School