A pair of peregrine falcons are nesting at St Albans Cathedral for the “first time ever” after wildlife experts lured them with a special tray filled with gravel to simulate cliffs.The church has been holding a naming competition for the fledglings once hatched, with “Falcony McFalconface” among the contenders, along with “Angel” and “Alban”, in honour of Britain’s first saint.A spokeswoman for the cathedral declined to reveal either the exact height or location of the pair “because we want to protect them — peregrines haven’t nested here before now”.However, it is expected that the eggs laid at the secret perch will “hatch in another couple of weeks”, she said.Peregrines, the fastest birds in the world, are only found in a small number of isolated spots in England’s southeast, and the St Albans pair are one of only five pairs breeding in Hertfordshire.The surprise nesting has been hailed as “a hugely rewarding development” for the Wilder St Albans project, a collaboration between Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust and St Albans council.Barry Trevis, an ornithologist and licensed bird ringer, built and installed the nesting tray at the cathedral. The gravel-lined tray simulates the birds’ natural nesting sites and provides them with a safe place to lay their eggs.Heidi Carruthers, the Wilder St Albans project officer, said: “This is hugely exciting news and we’re delighted that the peregrines have been able to use the nesting tray.“It’s fantastic to see [peregrines] in the skies over St Albans. We’re keeping our fingers crossed that the eggs hatch safely and the chicks fledge successfully.”
St Paul’s Cathedral is to admit girls to its internationally renowned choir, breaking a tradition stretching back 900 years.The move comes 31 years after Salisbury became the first Anglican cathedral in England to offer girls places in its choir. Many others, including York Minster, Durham and Exeter, have followed suit.St Paul’s choir performs at services and events of national importance as well as daily liturgies and three times on Sundays. It will perform at a service of thanksgiving next month for the Queen’s platinum jubilee celebrations.The choir currently comprises 22 choristers alongside professional singers known as vicars choral. The first girls will join in 2025 after boarding school facilities have been expanded and funds raised for scholarships.Sarah Mullally, the bishop of London, said: “I am delighted by the chapter [governing body] decision to welcome girls into the cathedral choir. The choir plays a key role in the worship not just of the cathedral, but of the whole diocese. It will be wonderful to hear girls’ voices contributing to this.”Andrew Carwood, director of music at St Paul’s, said: “Knowing that our incredible boys will be joined by young girl choristers in the near future is heartwarming, and an important milestone in the choir’s history.”He said the “long-held ambition” to introduce girls had been put on hold by the Covid pandemic and resulting loss of income. “Now we’re getting our mojo back, and one of the first things is to get girls into the choir.”According to the Traditional Cathedral Choir Association, “the ecclesiastical all-male voice choir is a hugely significant part of our heritage” that has been valued for centuries. However, “a myriad of pressures has seen many of our historic traditional choirs lost” over recent years, it adds.
More than 30 six-month work placements were made available by Lichfield Cathedral for 16 to 24-year-olds in the region. The roles available were in the Cathedral, churches, and organisations across the Diocese – providing valuable work experience for those impacted by the pandemic. For some young people, like Gabriella, this opportunity proved to be life changing. “In 2019, I began the year homeless” she explained. “All the stress caused me to end up in hospital, which meant I missed my exams.“Finding work was difficult to say the least.” But then Gabriella heard about the Kickstart Scheme through Universal Credit and was given a placement by Lichfield Cathedral, to work as a children’s and youth assistant at St Matthew's Church in Walsall. “Everyone welcomed me with open arms, it was the most fun that I had in a very long time”, Gabriella laughed. “The children were amazing, I got to be creative and make up new games, go on trips with the children and I even gained office-based skills, like with risk assessments and writing letters. “St Matthews Church looks like such a domineering building but the people who go there and work there are the kindest people you’ll ever meet.“Everyone is so nice that you feel like you are family as soon as you walk through the doors. “I also got to find out more about Christianity, even though I am not a Christian myself, it was a very enriching experience.”Today, Gabriella works as a Mental Health Support Worker. Reflecting on the scheme, she said: “Taking part gave me back my hope and ambition, that I thought I had lost.“Thank you, Lichfield Cathedral, for giving me the chance to become who I wanted to be.”
