Belfast Cathedral Embarks On Cross–Community Choir School; This Week In Christ Church Cathedral; RSCM welcomes VAT change on organs
Belfast Cathedral Embarks On Cross–Community Choir School
St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast, has been re–structuring its music department. Having established a girls’ choir the cathedral is actively seeking to recruit boys for a newly constituted boys’ choir.
As a central part of this project, the Cathedral is pleased to announce that it is to create an ecumenical and cross–community ‘Choir School’. This does not mean building and establishing a brand new school, but (on the pattern of St Anne’s Cathedral in Leeds) it is forming a strong musical relationship with three local schools. The schools are in neighbouring North Belfast: Edenbrooke Primary, Sacred Heart Boys’ Primary and Cliftonville Integrated School.
All three schools are to have one or more of the Cathedral’s professional singing teachers in the school virtually every day; teaching singing in every class in each school every week. The Cathedral offers this musical outreach into the community not only to train boys and girls to sing to such a standard that some will have the opportunity to sing in the Cathedral Choir, in due course, but to give of the Cathedral’s musical expertise to the community, of which it is a part, such as would be done by the Ulster Orchestra and Belfast School of Music.
Dean of Belfast, The Very Revd John Mann, says: ‘I believe that St Anne’s should not only have an open door to the people of Belfast, but an intent to take what we have been given in abundance to share with everyone – and especially with children. The Choir School project is close to my heart and will happen because of the vision of our musicians, the enthusiasm of the schools and the faith and courage of the Cathedral Board to resource it.’
The official, formal launch of this exciting new initiative for the City of Belfast and St Anne’s Cathedral – at which children from the three schools involved will sing – will take place in November; however, as it gets underway, the Principals of the schools have endorsed the project warmly:
The Principal of Edenbrooke Primary School, Mr J Manning, says: ‘We are excited about the amazing opportunity that the cathedral singing project will provide for our pupils both musically and educationally. This will provide our pupils with expert singing tuition in school but also the chance to be part of the cathedral choirs. All of the school community is looking forward to getting started!’
The Principal of Sacred Heart Boys’ Primary School, Mrs Patricia Quinn, says, ‘The staff and pupils of Sacred Heart Primary School are delighted to be invited to participate in this new innovative programme organised by St Anne’s Cathedral. This opportunity to be taught by professional musicians will give the boys more confidence and enhance their singing. The boys are very enthusiastic about this programme and are looking forward to visiting St Anne’s Cathedral over the coming months. I would like to thank the Dean of Belfast for offering Sacred Heart Primary School this marvellous opportunity and hope that the boys flourish from this experience.’
Ms Brenda McMullen, Principal of Cliftonville Integrated School, concludes: ‘The staff and I are genuinely delighted that music specialists from Belfast Cathedral will come into school to work with our children and teachers. We are very privileged to have been selected and welcome the musicians into Cliftonville with open arms. There are many great singers in Cliftonville Integrated Primary School and they will benefit hugely from the enormous support the Cathedral will provide. We can hardly wait for the project to start – bring it on!’
This Week In Christ Church Cathedral
SUNDAY 13 OCTOBER — TRINITY XX
10am: Bell Ringing for Service.
11am: Choral Eucharist sung by the Cathedral Choir.
Palestrina, Missa Aeterna Christi munera.
Philips, Salve salutaris victim.
Preacher: The Rev’d Canon Ted Ardis.
3.30pm: Choral Evensong sung by the Cathedral Choir.
Moore, Responses.
Rubbra in Ab.
Moore, All wisdom cometh from the Lord.
WEDNESDAY 16 OCTOBER.
6pm: Choral Evensong sung by the Cathedral Girls’ Choir.
Plainsong, Responses.
Plainsong Canticles, Tonus Peregrinus.
Dyson, I will worship.
THURSDAY 17 OCTOBER.
6pm: Choral Evensong sung by the Cathedral Choir.
Rose, Responses.
Jackson in G.
Brahms, How lovely are thy dwellings.
DAILY SERVICES: Morning Prayer, 10am. Peace Prayers, 12pm. Healing Eucharist, 12.45pm. Evening Prayer, 5pm (where no Choral Evensong).
For those of you who are unable to join us, all our services and daily worship can be viewed via live webcast on www.christchurchdublin.ie
FORTHCOMING CONCERT
Christ Church Cathedral Choir and Chamber Orchestra present Fauré’s Requiem on Thursday 7th November at 8pm. Tickets €18/ €16 conc. See cathedral website for details.
RSCM welcomes VAT change on organs
The Royal School of Church Music (RSCM) has warmly welcomed changes to the government scheme which will now enable listed churches to claim grants on repair work to pipe organs, turret clocks, bells and bell ropes. Organ restoration schemes throughout the country could benefit.
The Government’s Listed Places of Worship Scheme makes grants towards the recovery of Value Added Tax (VAT) paid during the course of repair work. Professional fees, such as those for architects, on eligible building work will also qualify. The extension of the scheme to include pipe organs, turret clocks, bells and bell ropes came into being on the 1st October 2013. The scheme has an annual budget of £42m, and currently receives 4,000 claims a year. There will also be changes to the administration of claims. Further details about the scheme, including information regarding the qualifying criteria for eligibility may be found here: http://www.lpwscheme.org.uk.
The changes will also be welcomed by those RSCM affiliates representing listed churches, though there are criteria regarding eligibility. One RSCM affiliated parish church in the south of England is about to embark on a major restoration of their organ costing £102,000 including VAT. Because pipe organs are now included in the scheme, the church’s organist says they will be able to claim back up to £17,000 VAT.
Andrew Reid, Director of the RSCM has welcomed the government’s changes. “Many church communities are working hard to raise funds to repair their pipe organs. Some of the organs are either unplayable or in urgent need of repair. For those churches which qualify, this expansion of the scheme could represent a sub