With Easter being nearly as early as it can be – the last weekend in March – just one weekend separates Candlemas and Ash Wednesday. This is designated Mental Health Awareness Sunday at the Abbey, and the girls are singing Timothy Noon’s Evocation to a Friend for the first time. At Evensong that Sunday the men are giving Philip Moore’s First Service its first outing at the Abbey.
At Evensong on the first Sunday in Lent we say farewell to Cantoris Head Chorister Archie Macintosh. He has sung with us for six years and provided an excellent example to younger choristers. We wish him well as he hangs up his red medal for the last time. I’m also grateful to his mother, Kate, who has organised many of our social activities over the past few years.
Half-term means a week off for all of us. Then, to conclude the month, the men are singing alone on Sunday 27 March and introducing By the waters of Babylon by Arthur Wills at Evensong. As George Richford warned us at the outset, it’s certainly proving to be a busy term.
Ouside our weekly round of services, the recruitment campaign for new choristers is underway. To date, George has six boys set to join us after Easter and is looking for several more. He has made useful contacts at a number of local schools. If you know a boy who likes to sing, take a look at what we offer.