Bradford Cathedral will welcome the Peterborough Chamber Choir to lead the music at three services over the weekend of the 17th and 18th February 2024. The Peterborough Chamber Choir was founded in 1984, in Peterborough, by the late Henk Kamminga. After Henk passed away in January 2022 the choir has continued the musical legacy he left. The choir meets together for about seven weekends a year, as a Visiting Choir, in Cathedrals all over the UK, and they have sung in Europe, most recently in Holland and prior to that, in France and Belgium. The choir will return to Bradford for the first time since 2019, directed by Gary Sieling with the choir accompanied by their organist, Christopher Moore. They will be leading the music at Choral Evensong on Saturday 17th February at 5:30pm; at the Choral Eucharist at 10:30am on Sunday18th February (this service is also streamed on YouTube and Facebook); and Choral Evensong later that same day at 3:30pm. Henry Mansell Duckett, Founder Member, First Bass and Treasurer says: “We have always regarded it a considerable privilege to be able to deputise for the resident professionals in a varied range of often spectacular, always fascinating, medieval to modern Foundations, and always aim to do our best to maintain the exceptional standards of cathedral music in this country - which may be said to be unparalleled.” You can hear the Peterborough Chamber Choir at Bradford Cathedral’s Choral Eucharist on Sunday 18th February at 10:30am, as well at Choral Evensong services at 5:30pm on Saturday 17th February and the Sunday at 3:30pm. You can find out more in an interview at bradfordcathedral.org.uk/2024/02/05/peterborough-chamber-choir-2024/
The season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday – 14th February 2024. Bradford Cathedral will be marking this with a service of Choral Eucharist with the Imposition of Ashes at 7pm, a service which is in addition to the two regular said services on the Wednesday morning at 8:15am and 10:15am. All are welcome at these services.The Riding Lights Theatre Company will also be bringing the revival of their acclaimed Passion Play - The Narrow Road by Paul Birch – to the Cathedral. The Passion Play – a dramatic recreation of the final days of Jesus Christ – will be performed on Wednesday 28th February at 7:30pm, with tickets available now from Ticket Source or via the Bradford Cathedral website. Other special events at Bradford Cathedral this Lent include a retreat morning with Bishop Toby on Saturday 17th February at 10am; the World Day of Prayer service on Friday 1st March at 2pm; and a Prayer Vigil for International Peace - also on the World Day of Prayer – at 6pm. About Ash Wednesday The name ‘Ash Wednesday’ comes from the use of ashes on this day, which are an ancient sign of penitence. From the Middle Ages it became the custom to begin Lent by being marked in ash with the sign of the cross. Lent is the 40-day period that begins on Ash Wednesday. The length of Lent reflects Jesus’ 40 days in the desert, and is a time of study and devotion for Christians. Many Christians today use Lent as an opportunity to focus on an aspect of discipleship, such as prayer, fasting, study or service. Historically, many new Christians also prepared throughout Lent for their baptism, and entry into the life of God's Church, at Easter. The Revd Pete Gunstone, Minor Canon for Worship and Nurture, says: “Ash Wednesday begins the season of Lent, with an opportunity to embrace both our finitude and the mercy and power of God. We hope you can join us for our reflective worship at the start of Lent.” Watch and PrayThe Church of England’s central theme for Lent this year is ‘Watch + Pray’. “This Lent we are encouraged to wait expectantly for God to meet us and sustain us through the storms and trials we all face. “The Church of England’s Lent theme for 2024 is Watch and Pray: Wisdom and hope for Lent and life. “This Lent all of us are encouraged to draw on the wisdom of Black Spirituality, particularly the practice of “tarrying” (waiting) as a community to draw closer to Jesus and to each other.” The Season of Lent Alongside these extra services, the Cathedral’s regular pattern of worship continues. On Sundays these are the 8am Holy Communion from the Book of Common Prayer; the 10:30am Choral Eucharist; and the 3:30pm Choral Evensong. Other opportunities to gather for prayer include Morning and Evening Prayer online at 9am and 5:30pm; Midday Prayer at 12noon; Choral Evensong on Mondays and Tuesdays at 5:30pm; and services of Holy Communion on Wednesdays at 8:15am and 10:15am. For further details, please see the Bradford Cathedral website. The Very Revd Andy Bowerman, Dean of Bradford, says: “We would be delighted to invite you to join us in drawing closer to Jesus and each other this season. You will be sure of a generous and warm welcome.” Bradford Cathedral will also be holding services and events during Holy Week, which follows the season of Lent, with more information on these to follow. For more information about the season of Lent please visit bradfordcathedral.org.uk/lent.
Free family activities are back again at Bradford Cathedral for the February half term. There are two free sessions on Tuesday 13th February, between 10am and 12noon and 1pm and 3pm. Maggie Myers, Bradford Cathedral’s Director of Education and Visitors, says:“We're looking forward to welcoming children and their carers to our February half-term holiday activity sessions. We will be welcoming in the spring with some lovely craft activities involving nature, flowers and woodland creatures. And we'll be celebrating Valentine's day! “There are also family-friendly guided tours at 11am and 2pm for those who would like a tour of the Cathedral. “The Cathedral will also be open on that day for families to look around in their own time and there are always Cathedral quizzes and trails to keep the children busy! Refreshments are also available. “We hope to see you at some point for half-term fun and fascination!” Bradford Cathedral looks forward to welcoming you at the next Family Activities, but booking is advised in order to ensure a place. Children must be accompanied at all times by an adult. For more information – and to book your free place – please visit bradfordcathedral.org.uk/featured-events
On Saturday 10th February 2024, Bradford Cathedral will be holding its seventh annual ‘CathedralSing!’ event, where children from local schools are invited along to discover more about the choir and singing at Bradford Cathedral. To sign up, all you have to do is fill in the short form at https://bradfordcathedral.org.uk/cathedral-sing. The deadline for applications is Monday 5th February 2024. Ahead of the event, the Music Department at Bradford Cathedral have been visiting local primary schools in the city. Throughout January they have visited Hill Top CofE Primary, Calverley CofE Primary School, St John's CofE Primary, Myrtle Park Primary, Greengates Primary Academy, Trinity All Saints’ Bingley, Wycliffe Primary, Low Moor Primary, Swain House Primary, Cullingworth Village Primary School and Hipperholme Grammar Junior School. At each school they have run special inclusive singing workshops with school children in different years. These workshops include how to work on singing technique, and they practise singing rounds and how to sing in harmony. Graham Thorpe, Director of Music at Bradford Cathedral, says:“At the workshops we explain about the choir and at the end all the children who have taken part in the workshop get the opportunity to sing to us in groups, and those who are interested in finding out more will be given a Golden Ticket to take home at the end of school.” The Golden Tickets are a special invitation to the ‘CathedralSing!’ event held at Bradford Cathedral on Saturday 10th February 2024, a morning where the child can come in with their parents to take part in some singing workshops with the music department staff. As well as the recruitment through the schools, you can contact Bradford Cathedral if you know of any other children who would like to get involved. Graham Thorpe:“We also speak to their parents and explain what it is to be a chorister and they get to observe a chorister singing lesson and choir practice.” The Saturday workshop also includes a short service and, at the end, refreshments. The children also get the chance to sign up for the ‘Grace Notes’ choir, who meet every week, as the first step on the journey to becoming a full member of the choir. Graham Thorpe:“We first ran CathedralSing! in 2018. It's such a lively and joyous event, and is a really important way for us to recruit children to the choir.” ‘CathedralSing!’ takes place on Saturday 10th February 2024 from 9:00am - 12.30pm. This event is where children across Bradford are invited to sing with the Bradford Cathedral choristers. If you know any children who would love to be involved, you can find out more please visit: bradfordcathedral.org.uk/cathedral-sing. The deadline to apply is Monday 5th February 2024. You can watch a short video recorded at 2022’s CathedralSing! at youtu.be/OzdCaLngdaE ENDS
