Truro Cathedral Choir in chorus with Isles of Scilly Community
Truro Cathedral Choir enjoyed the warmest welcome on St Mary’s Isles of Scilly for their post-Easter tour, despite the inclement weather. The 12 adult singers and 16 choristers gave a range of performances and community workshops for old and young islanders against a backdrop of weather extremes, from gale-force winds to bright Spring sunshine.
Having travelled to the islands on Scillonian III on the high seas on Tuesday morning, worsening conditions led to a few impromptu performances in addition to the planned itinerary. Relieved to reach the islands before storms halted all further transport, the choir found themselves enjoying dinner in the famous quayside Mermaid Inn, with rain and gales lashing the windows and huge waves crashing against the pier, just yards away. With a folksong titled ‘The Mermaid’ freshly added to their repertoire, the choir gave a surprise performance, greeted by delighted applause and cheers from all in the Mermaid’s bar.
Wednesday saw all inter-island boats cancelled as swells near the Seven Stones Lightship were recorded at 8.5 metres! A planned morning concert in the chapel on St Martin’s was sadly out of the question and the choir remained marooned on St Mary’s. Undeterred, choristers and adult singers were soon sharing their music with St Mary’s Memory Club, having arranged an impromptu visit to the popular OAP club. The group is run by Jane Chiverton for elderly residents living with dementia or in need of a friendly get-together and gathers twice a week. The choristers, led by Director of Music, Christopher Gray, taught the members a gospel medley and were soon joining voices in a rousing rendition of ‘Swing low sweet chariot’ and ‘When the saints come marching in’. In their turn, Memory Club members led the young visitors in their weekly dexterity exercises with choristers concentrating carefully on the routine and much laughter on all sides. With a range of participants from 8 to 99, it was a fabulous cross-generational afternoon of fun.
A beautiful choral evensong at St Mary’s Parish Church, led by Chaplain to the Isles of Scilly, Rev Elizabeth Burke, went ahead as planned with the sun already beginning to stream through the stained-glass windows, heralding brighter times ahead. By Thursday morning, dazzling sunshine set the scene for a scheduled singing workshop with children from Five Islands School. Mainland choristers met island children for the first time in person, having sung with them three times in the last twelve months across the internet on the very popular Chorister Mega Zoom Assemblies, the last of which saw over 2,000 school children across the Duchy join to sing and worship together.
The tour ended with a return to St Mary’s Church for an evening concert, sharing choral works from the 1300s to the present day, including Herbert Sumsion’s ’They that go down to the sea in ships’, Shenandoah and Pader an Arleth, a setting of the Lord’s Prayer in Cornish by Russell Pascoe. Island children joined the choristers for three items they’d learned in the morning and the concert closed with several choral favourites and the upbeat Mermaid folksong. It was a joyful but also emotional finale with fond farewells from singers and supporters, being the last concert led by director of music, Christopher Gray, before he takes up his new position, directing the choir of St John’s College, Cambridge.
‘We’ve had the warmest welcome, from the fabulous Scillonian crew who got us here despite the weather to Rev Elizabeth Burke, Church Warden, Jane Chiverton, Mundesley House and generous private accommodation hosts as well, of course, as the Memory Club and Head Teacher Rachel Gibb, Five Islands School. We’re grateful to everyone who helped re-jig our plans and make the very most of our time on the islands - a truly memorable tour to end my time with the choir!’ said Christopher Gray, director of music.
After a short break, the choir will resume its duties in the cathedral with the assistant director of music Andrew Wyatt taking the helm until June when the newly appointed director of music, James Anderson-Besant arrives from Exeter.
Interim Dean Simon Robinson, says: ‘One of the wonderful gifts of the ministry of music at Truro Cathedral, is that it reaches out into the whole of the Diocese. It was a great joy to see the cathedral choir touring the Isles of Scilly. I was particularly moved by the images from the Memory Café. Being a chorister and a choir member is a significant commitment. I pay tribute to the choir who, in their school and Easter holidays have given of themselves yet again, sharing the Gospel via their musical talents. We are all aware that this was Chris Gray’s last engagement here in Cornwall. He moves on to his new post in Cambridge with our blessing. He leaves behind an immense legacy in the musical life of the cathedral, of the Diocese of Truro and of Cornwall. I am already working with James Anderson-Besant as he prepares to move to the Diocese. James will bring a fresh set of eyes and a new set of skills to the musical ministry of Truro Cathedral.’
Photo Credits:
Banner Photo: Esmé Page
Side Image: Martin Jeffers