Choir swaps cathedrals to sing at St John’s in Norwich

St John the Baptist Cathedral in Norwich played host to 24 choristers from Brentwood Cathedral on Sunday February 19, when they sang the 11am Mass.

The choristers made the early start from Essex to sing for the Solemn Mass in Norwich under the baton of Andrew Wright, Director of Music for the Diocese of Brentwood.

The Choir sang movements from the Messe Basse by Gabriel Faure, two motets by Colin Mawby, and ‘A Gaelic Blessing’ especially written for the choir in thanksgiving for 50 years of ordination of Fr Michael Stokes. Fr Michael is a retired priest of Brentwood now living in the Diocese of East Anglia and assists in the Parish of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour and St Edmund at Hunstanton.

The choristers were accompanied on the organ by Norwich Organ Scholar,George David, previously the Organ Scholar of Brentwood Cathedral, and James Devor, Assistant Organist of Brentwood Cathedral.

Diocesan Director of Music, Daniel Justin, said: "It was a great joy to welcome the choristers from Brentwood to sing in our beautiful cathedral. They sang beautifully, and I hope this is the foundation of a great partnership with our neighbouring Diocese. Plans are already afoot for a Norwich to Brentwood trip in the near future!"

Brentwood Cathedral closed its doors at the beginning of January to enable essential repairs and redecoration to be carried out. It is expected to re-open in mid-March in time for the centenary celebrations of the Diocese of Brentwood.

Pictured top is the Brentwood choir at St John’s Cathedral and, right, Daniel Justin (left) withAndrew Wright.

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