Choral festival comes to Leeds

 (Photo: Robbie Ribeiro)

Members of church choirs from across the North of England will converge on Leeds Town Hall later this month for a choral festival.

Choristers of all ages are being invited to take part in the festival, called The Whole Company of Heaven.

The festival is being organised by the Royal School of Church Music and will be directed by Dr Simon Lindley, the City of Leeds organist.

Choristers will sing compositions by Francis Jackson and T Tertius Noble, both past organists of York Minster, and Ernest Bullock, as well as church music composers George Dyson and Charles Villiers Stanford.

The festival culminates in a special service at 3pm that will also mark the eve of the feast day of St Michael and All Angels with hymns on the theme of angels and saints. Preaching the sermon will be the Bishop of Beverley, the Right Reverend Glyn Webster.

"We are hoping for 600 choristers from across the whole region, including cathedral choirs from Wakefield, Sheffield and Bradford," says Andrew Robinson, the RSCM's Regional Music Adviser.

"This is a celebration of the role of music within worship and a rare chance to bring together choristers to celebrate our fine North of England heritage of church music, in the iconic space of Leeds Town Hall."

Singers, whether as part of a choir or individuals, need to book in advance to take part and music will be provided in a service book priced at £6. For more information go to www.rscm.com/riponandleeds or contact Andrew Robinson on arobinson@rscm.com.

News
Correspondence from Alice in Wonderland author, Lewis Carroll, discovered in Lincoln Cathedral
Correspondence from Alice in Wonderland author, Lewis Carroll, discovered in Lincoln Cathedral

The letter mentions a number of people who partially inspired scenes from Carroll’s most famous work, Alice in Wonderland.

Cost of living tops list of concerns for young Australians in Christian survey
Cost of living tops list of concerns for young Australians in Christian survey

The annual survey by the national Christian charity shows a sharp and sustained shift in what matters most to young Australians.

Police still haven't decided if pro-life campaigner will be charged for silent prayer
Police still haven't decided if pro-life campaigner will be charged for silent prayer

Pro-life campaigner Isabel Vaughan-Spruce has had a legal Sword of Damocles over her head for 10 months as British authorities continue to decide whether or not to charge her for silent prayer in an abortion clinic buffer zone.

Most people in Britain believe that Christmas has become too commercial
Most people in Britain believe that Christmas has become too commercial

Many Brits want a return to tradition, a survey by the Children's Society has found.