Today was an historic day for St Mary our Lady. At the Family Service for Candlemas we admitted to the Choir 5 Junior Choristers who are following the Royal School of Church Music training and were admitted as full members of the Choir. This is the first time in at least 40 years junior choristers have been admitted, a wonderful occasion for everyone and a great and joyful sign of  the work of the Spirit in our community.
Seth, China, Hazel, Amy, and Lucy who is to be head Chorister, were presented to Father Stephen by Joanna Chilvers and were duly admitted, they receive their Cassocks and Lucy received her medal as Head Chorister. They then sang together the solo in 'Lead me Lord'  words from Psalms music by Samuel Sebastian Wesley (1810-1876).

In addition to this wonderful event, we also heard from Father Stephen about the festival of the Presentation of Christ in the Temple. This occurs 40 days after Christmas and marks a turning point in the year as we move from thinking about Christ's birth and childhood and look forward to Lent and Easter and thinking about His Passion and Resurrection. We lit and held up individual candles during the Gospel from Luke recounting the events of the Presentation.  After Communion the Choir sang 'When  Mary to the Temple Whent' Translated from the German by J Troutbeck, Music by Johannes Eccard. At the end of the service Father Stephen blessed the new alter candles that we will use throughout this year. There was coffee after the service, and lots of photos of the new choristers and the whole choir were taken, thanks to Steve Amos for pressing the button!!

China, Amy, Lucy. Hazel and Seth our new Choristers

The whole Choir with Joanna

Lucy and Amy with Father Stephen