Much has happened since the last time I was able to write and post anything here. I won't go into detail on everything, just pick out a few highlights, so here goes!
The annual Margaret Clitherow pilgrimage on 29th March was again a huge success. You can see a very short video commemorating the days events here. http://youtu.be/Brz8emd67l4
Holy Week and Easter came and went at St. Wilfrid's. This year for the first time, two of the Rudgates sang in choir for the offices of Matins & Lauds (Ordinary Form) for Good Friday & Holy Saturday.
Low Week saw some of us travel down to Belmont Abbey in Herefordshire, about 2 miles west of Hereford to take part in the annual Training conference for Clergy & Servers in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite. Our role was to provide the music for all the public services during the week. As we didn't want to interfere with the existing Monastic Office, this consisted of singing Vespers twice and Solemn Mass three times, so there was plenty of time to explore the local area, and for me to indulge in the local cider & perry!
All services were recorded for posterity on my trusty camcorder and can be found here:
The annual Margaret Clitherow pilgrimage on 29th March was again a huge success. You can see a very short video commemorating the days events here. http://youtu.be/Brz8emd67l4
Holy Week and Easter came and went at St. Wilfrid's. This year for the first time, two of the Rudgates sang in choir for the offices of Matins & Lauds (Ordinary Form) for Good Friday & Holy Saturday.
Low Week saw some of us travel down to Belmont Abbey in Herefordshire, about 2 miles west of Hereford to take part in the annual Training conference for Clergy & Servers in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite. Our role was to provide the music for all the public services during the week. As we didn't want to interfere with the existing Monastic Office, this consisted of singing Vespers twice and Solemn Mass three times, so there was plenty of time to explore the local area, and for me to indulge in the local cider & perry!
All services were recorded for posterity on my trusty camcorder and can be found here:
http://youtu.be/L95nZ4JkQLA - Tuesday Vespers
http://youtu.be/tk1E5b7LKtY - Wednesday Mass St. Catherine of Siena
http://youtu.be/X67N4UsCMFA - Wednesday 1st Vespers of St. Joseph the worker
http://youtu.be/8-D5zjd31Gg - Thursday Mass St Joseph the worker
http://youtu.be/hn3aPeF5zcQ - Friday Solemn Requiem
There are some odd camera angles, but that's the disadvantage of guessing and placing the camcorder in a position where it's hoped that it will capture most of what's going on, and leaving it there whilst taking part yourself! I'm already looking forward to next year, wherever that may be.
On 9th May, some of us went up to sing with the Darlington Ordinariate choir for the annual May Procession and Devotions. another wonderful service, and another Mozart Mass!
More recently, returning to St. Wilfrid's, we had a visit by Fr Cassian, the prior of the monastery at St Benedict’s birthplace in Norcia, Italy, who gave a splendid talk on the place of chant in the Church’s worship. This was followed by Monastic Compline, which caused a little confusion, as it's not quite the same as Compline which we sing regularly at St. Mary's! Again, some of us sang in choir in the Sanctuary, which is a very rewarding place to sing from!
We're now working towards Mass for Ascensiontide at St. W's, which will be followed swiftly by the first High Mass there for decades on the Feast of Pentecost, so do come along if you can!
