ᴘʜᴏᴛᴏ ᴄʀᴇᴅɪᴛ: ᴛʀᴇᴠᴏʀ ꜱᴍɪᴛʜCongratulations to David Harris, our much-loved organist and choirmaster, who is joint winner of the 2024 Laudemus! competition with his setting of the anthem Hail, Gladdening Light! for SATB and organ. Laudemus!, an adult choir which meets annually to sing evensong in churches down in Dorset, will be singing the winning anthems at Wimborne Minster on 10th August, which by happy coincidence is also David's birthday.The Royal School of Church Music will be publishing both winning pieces, and our choir at St. Oswald's will be singing Hail, Gladdening Light! just as soon as it has been premièred.David has been Director of Music at St. Oswald's since his second year at Durham University in 2014. Before that, he was an organ scholar at Portsmouth Cathedral, and works as a performer, teacher, and church musician.
Every year, the Durham Deanery celebrates Ascension Day with a eucharist in the beautiful riverside ruins of Finchale Priory. Finchale was once upon a time within the parish of St. Oswald, which is why we still have the privilege of organising the event.This year, the preacher was Revd. John Fisher, the new Rector of St. Giles, and our own Revd. Peter Kashouris celebrated. St. Oswald's choir led the music from behind the (ahem) portable altar, and although the Salvation Army Band were unable to join this year, they have been firmly invited for 2025.
ᴘʜᴏᴛᴏ ᴄʀᴇᴅɪᴛ: ᴀʟɪᴄᴇ ᴡᴏʀᴛAfter the commemoration of the first eucharist on Maundy Thursday, and the harrowing tale of the crucifixion on Good Friday and the stripping of the altars, the light is lit on Easter Eve and the church starts to put on its festal array to celebrate the mighty resurrection of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.This was the first time I've ever taken part in the services of Holy Week, and it was a privilege.
