On Wednesday 5th March we welcome our very own Pete Gunstone to the console for our seventh organ recital of 2025. Could you introduce yourself, how you got into music / become an organist and your musical journey to where you are today?My name is the Revd Pete Gunstone. I am Minor Canon for Worship and Nurture at Bradford Cathedral and will be installed as Canon Precentor at Carlisle Cathedral on Trinity Sunday, 15th June, at 3pm – all are most welcome! I come from a relatively musical family comprising church organists, Gilbert & Sullivan singer, and parlour musicians. Having learned the piano from the age of eight and been thrown out of piano lessons for not practicing, I took up playing the organ as a teenager in the wake of the previous Play the Organ Year (1990) [2025 is also ‘Play the Organ Year], went on to read music in the University of Leeds, was Organ Scholar a Leeds Parish Church, undertook postgraduate organ study in the Royal Northern College of Music, and then was a freelance & church musician for a number of years prior to ordination in 2019.What can people expect from your recital at Bradford Cathedral, and how are you reflecting the terms programming themes in the repertoire?The unusual opportunity to hear Carl Nielsen’s epic work for solo organ, Commotio op. 58, a notable example of “creativity under pressure”, Bradford Cathedral’s programming theme for January – April 2025. Composed between June 1930 and February 1931 Nielsen considered this a significant part of his compositional opus. In 1926, he had suffered a serious heart attack which limited his previously expansive musical career to composition. Of Commotio, Nielsen wrote: “None of my other works has demanded such great concentration as this: an attempt to reconstitute what is truly the only valid organ style, the polyphonic music that is especially suited to this instrument, which for a long time has been regarded as a kind of orchestra, which it absolutely is not.” Sadly, Nielsen was unable to attend the first performance in August 1931 and he died subsequently in October 1931. Interestingly, as his only major work for organ (the others comprise a collection of miniatures), Commotio became Nielsen’s final work.Nielsen explained that the word Commotio meant for him, “Movement, also spiritual”. He also wrote: “The Latin word Commotio really applies to all music, but the word is used more specifically here as an expression of self-objectification. In a major work for the mighty instrument that is called the organ, whose sound is determined by the natural element we call air, the composer must attempt to suppress all personal, lyrical feelings. The expression becomes great and rigorous and demands a kind of dryness instead of the emotional, and must rather be gazed at with the ear than embraced by the heart. The work is borne up by two fugues, to which an introduction, intervening movements and coda cling like climbing plants to the tree-trunks of the forest; however, the composer thinks that further analysis is superfluous.”Prior to Commotio, people will be able to hear J.S. Bach’s Prelude and Fugue in G BWV 541, whose opening motif and form are somewhat reflected in Commotio, and C.H.H. Parry’s Chorale Prelude on St Cross, which was composed during the First World War, reflecting the particular theme of this term’sYour move to Carlisle Cathedral was recently announced. What have you most enjoyed about your time in Bradford, at Fountains Church, and the Cathedral, and what are you looking forward to in your new role?I’ve really enjoyed being a planting the newest church in Bradford and then being a part of the oldest in the district. It is fantastic that at the heart of this city there are two such vibrant Christian communities that engage people of all ages and all cultures in their lives. I’m looking forward to getting to know a new city and county, to getting to know my future colleagues and the people of Carlisle, to training my nose to recognise exactly which biscuit is being baked on a particular day, and to being closer to the big hills of Scotland and Northern England. Thank you, Bradford, for your welcome. You will be in my heart forever and remain in my prayers.You can join us on Wednesday 5th March at 1pm to hear Pete’s organ recital, with an optional £4 buffet lunch beforehand at 12:30pm.You can discover more about our organ recital season on our dedicated page.
The season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday – 5th March 2025. Bradford Cathedral will be marking this with the Liturgy of Ash Wednesday, a service of Choral Eucharist with the Imposition of Ashes at 7pm. This 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. Lent Course Bradford Cathedral will also be running the Living Hope course this Lent, beginning Wednesday 12th March 2025 and meeting every Wednesday in Lent at 7pm. Copies of the accompanying booklet will be available for those attending the course. If you would like to take part in the course, please let one of the clergy team know or email clergy@bradfordcathedral.org. 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 a spiritual discipline, 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 mortality and the mercy and power of God. We hope you can join us for our reflective worship at the start of Lent.”Living Hope This Lent we are encouraged to put down deep roots of hope by connecting with God who is with us at all times. The Church of England’s Lent theme for 2025 is Living Hope. “In Lent we journey with Jesus on the difficult and thorny road that leads all the way to the cross on Good Friday – and beyond, to the transformation of Easter Day. “God invites us to bring to him our own journey through everyday life. In the disappointment of daily setbacks and the pain of deeper hurts, we discover that God is present with us. And God promises a future where all things are healed and made new. “Living Hope offers us the opportunity to deepen our hope in God and be part of what God is doing to bring hope in the world.” The Season of Lent 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.” Special events this Lent include the World Day of Prayer service on Friday 7th March at 2pm, and a retreat morning with Bishop Toby on Saturday 8th March at 10am. The Cathedral’s regular pattern of worship on Sundays comprises a 8am Holy Communion from the Book of Common Prayer, a 10:30am Choral Eucharist, and a 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. 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.
The group of Bradford City fans will come together to perform for a new BBC programme named after the choir. One of those chosen is the Very Revd Andy Bowerman, Dean of Bradford, who will be taking part in the rehearsals and performances as part of the Bradford 2025 event."It's really exciting to have been selected to be part of this unique choir. I'm a little bit nervous as - though I'm around choirs all the time in the Cathedral - myself I'm a little bit lacking in confidence when it comes to singing. I'm looking forward to learning a bit about my voice and how I might improve my singing, but more than that I'm just looking forward to being with a new group of people, singing together, and celebrating all that is great about this city and our football club!" Dean Andy will be taking place in a series of rehearsals over the next few weeks, with performances to take place at events throughout the year. Look out for more information soon. You can find out more about it on the BBC website.
You can also find these on our School Resources page. Shrove Tuesday EYFS/KS1 Shrove Tuesday PowerPoint KS2-KS4 Shrove Tuesday – Information Shrove Tuesday Fun facts – Questions Shrove Tuesday Fun facts – Answers Ash Wednesday and Lent All Ages Temptation of Jesus – ICB Luke’s version Temptation of Jesus – ICB Mark’s version KS2-KS4 Ash Wednesday and Lent
