VI Chapel and Choir

VI CHAPEL AND CHOIR

Sacristan: W T Helms. Wardens: R Adamson, H M T Bee, T Boniface, J Brewster, S Burston, D Dold, H Hill, Z Lloyd, K S Macfarlane, M Nussbaumer, O C Dalseme-Stubbs, J Redburn, M T E Robinson, M L Skipsey. Organ Scholars: R Colman, P Sosnina.

The fiftieth anniversary of the death of C S Lewis (Fellow 1954–1963) was marked by a packed Commemorative Evensong in Chapel when the Master spoke. He also preached at a Service in Westminster Abbey for the dedication of the CSL memorial in Poets’ Corner; Bishop Barrington-Ward KCMG, the Chaplain, and Professor Cooper (as the then current holder of Lewis’s chair) represented the College. As well as the ever-popular Advent and Christmas Carol Services the Choir sang a concert of sacred and secular Christmas music at St Matthew’s Westminster which was packed with alumni from London and nearby; a second Christmas Concert – at Pepys’s church, St Olave’s Hart Street – will take place this year.

Other popular services included the Corporate Communions in the Michaelmas and Lent Terms, where around 90 members of College enjoyed the service, and the ensuing curry in the light and airy environment of the Cripps Court Gallery. Professor Duffy preached at a well-attended service of Vespers in Latin sung by monks of Douai and Ealing Abbeys.

Preachers we welcomed included the Bishop of Chelmsford, Bishop Anthony Priddis, the Deans of Ely, Melbourne, and Guildford Cathedrals, and the Archdeacon of Huntingdon and Wisbech. We also heard from the Vicar of St Bene’t’s, the Vicar of Hatfield Broad Oak and Bush End in Essex, the Revd Dr Rob McDonald (Ridley Hall), Dr Simon Gathercole (Faculty of Divinity), the Revd Canon Dr Simon Oliver (University of Nottingham), and Mgr Jeremy Fairhead (Camden Town parish). The Chaplain of the Fleet preached on Remembrance Sunday. A particular delight was the return of two former Magdalene under - graduates to preach – the Revd Dr Stephen Hampton (1990, now Dean and Senior Tutor of Peterhouse) and Mgr Mark Langham (1979, now Roman Catholic Chaplain to the University).

Donations from Chapel collections went to Jimmy’s Night Shelter, the Cambridge Foodbank, and Christian Aid, while the Remembrance Sunday collection was given to the Soldiers’, Sailors’, and Airmen’s Families Association, and the Commemoration of Benefactors’ collection to the College Student Hardship Fund.

CHOIR REPORT. The year began with Mr Jonathan Bielby MBE standing in for Mr Hellyer Jones who was on sick leave for the Michaelmas Term. There was a happy coincidence of Mr Bielby having retired in 2010 from his position as Director of Music at Wakefield Cathedral, where he had latterly been the most senior

Cathedral Organist in the UK, and being known to Mr Hellyer Jones when Mr Bielby was Organ Student at St John’s College in the early 1960s. Mr Bielby’s contribution to the musical and social life of the Choir was highly valued in the College.

There have been several Choral Evensongs outside College: in Norwich Cathedral in November, in Wymondham Abbey in February, and a service sung jointly with the choir of Corpus Christi College, in Corpus Chapel, in May. The Choir of Homerton College visited us and joined our choir in singing Evensong in November.

In March, Raphael Colman conducted a liturgical performance of JS Bach’s cantata Aus der Tiefen rufe ich, Herr, zu dir(BWV 131) with instrumental support.

In late June, after Graduation, the Choir made a tour to Belgium. Ghent was the base and concerts were given in Sint-Baafs Cathedral in Ghent and Brussels Cathedral. The Choir sung at Mass in St Pauluskerk in Ghent.

The Magdalene Choir in Brussels Cathedral Photo: Dorota Molin