Xmas newsletter 05

Chavagnes chronicle

Vol. IV No. 1

CHristmas 2005 moved into the Refectory for a selection of instrumental and other choral offerings. The first piece was one of our favourites: Purcell’s Come, come ye sons of Art!, marking that much loved English composer’s birthday.

December is a month full of activity: of course there were end of term tests, but there is also a succession of liturgical feasts that give colour to the ur fourth year at Chavagnes closing days of the term: notably, the International Colege began with celebration of St Nicholas’ Day on the by now traditional day-visit to the 6th December (where Stephen Puy du Fou theme park. We all enjoyed Lorriman was chosen as this year’s the pillaging vikings, the Christians boy bishop) and The Patronal Feast thrown to the lions in a real amphi- of our Chapel, the Immaculate theatre and all the other delights of Conception of our Lady on 8th this award-winning celebration of December. history.

The boy bishop ceremony is one After our first half-term break the that goes back to the middle ages. In boys enjoyed the annual celebration England before the Reformation of All Hallows’ Eve, disguised as every cathedral elected a boy bishop saints and angels. Members of staff who reigned symbolically from 6th to also entered into the spirit of the eve- 28th December. In it we find a numning, which included apple-bobbing ber of important lessons: the fragiliand other riotous party games, all in ty of human dignity and rank, the honour of the saints. (pictured above) sacred nature of the episcopate and Saint Cecila’s Night was marked in (lest the Masters should forget it) the our usual fashion: the Choir proces- need to show respect to children. sed into the Chapel singing the hymn The last week before the Christmas to the patroness of music, beginning holidays is always a delight. Several an evening of festivities in her boys enjoyed decorating a 9-ft tree in honour. After about half an hour of the Library, others made paper sacred polyphony guests and boys chains. Although we have been making a serious effort to observe the purifying season of Advent, some of the anticipated Christmas joy always appears early, especially for the Carol Service on Gaudete Sunday, before the boys depart.

Last year our art teacher, Mr Le Goaec, had the students make crib figures and we ended up with several Christchildren queueing for a place in the crib. This year the larger, traditional statues are peopling the stable in front of our Lady’s altar, and soon enough, while the boys are at home, celebrating with their families, the Chavagnes’ fourth Boy Bishop, My Lord Nicholas with his little Christchild of Chavagnes will chaplains: the incumbent of 2004 (right) Bishop Emeritus make his discreet appearance in the Sven, and Father Robert. All three boys are members of strangely silent chapel, remaining the College Choir. until after the Feast of the

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Flashback to September: Chavvers boys climb to the top of the tree ... during a visit to the Puy du fou theme park.

Below: The Roman amphitheatre was a hit with all.

Above: making Christmas paper chains.

Presentation of our Lord (and the Purification of our Lady) on 2nd February.

So much work has gone into this intensive last week of term, notably for the Carol Service and the Christmas play.

The Carol Service follows the same pattern each year, derived from the ancient Office of Mattins of Christmas Day, although in its modern format, it is a tradition that goes back to just after the First World War. There are nine lessons from Holy Scripture that tell the tale of man’s fall and of his Redemption, culminating in the Prologue of St John’s Gospel, speaking of the Word made flesh.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all parents, students and friends

Tension mounts as Francis (the honest man who has experienced life in the slums of New York) demonstrates the correct way to use a switchblade - for the benefit of his fellow jurors: Kevin, Daniel, Christopher, Charlie, Gregoire, Aurele, John and Robert.

Below: the entire cast, and the directors (Dr Conlon and Miss Readings.)

The College’s soccer team fields boys from 14-18 years of age and plays at under 18 level, acquitting itself very well in local competitions. The team’s shirts (in Marian blue, and bearing the College coat of arms) were kindly donated by Mr Z. Handzel’s building company.

Above: The Carol Service is a popular anticipation of Christmas.

Below: Boys vote at a College debate. About ten interhouse debates are held each year.

Each reading is followed by a Carol or motet. This year Matthias Lloyd soared into the heavenly realms with a very romantic setting of Pueri, concinite! sung from the organ loft, with assistance from girls of La Bonne Nouvelle. The College choir sang a few old favourites, two lofty German tunes (A Great and Mighty Wonder and Puer natus in Bethlehem) together with the distinctively English Adam Lay Ybounden (Boris Ord) and This is the Truth Sent from Above (Vaughan Williams).

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Phillip Kalinda was impressive as a wise old man (complete with flour in his hair and his convincing stoop.)

Daniel Cansick carried off a nervous twitch and an uncharacteristcally hesitant manner that he sustained throughout the piece.

It is to the credit of all the actors that real tension and drama were achieved in a long play that involves no real changes of scene, and in which all the characters are on stage throughout. Everything depended on the richness of the different characterisations and the convincing delivery of the legal arguments. It all worked very well indeed.

All in all, a promising start to our fourth academic year at Chavagnes.

ur Christmas theatrical offering this year was Twelve Angry Men, in which Anthony Readings and John Underwood particularly distinguished themselves. Anthony was the A peaceful Christ-centred Christmas to all! odd man out who wins over his fellow jurors in a murder trial; John was the embittered father who sees his own wayward son in the face of the accused boy.