Press Releases September 2004The Big Draw at the Abbey
On Tuesday 26 October between 10.30 am and 3.30 pm there is a Family Drawing Day organised as part of The Big Draw. Cathedral Warden Sue Keeling said "last year's event was the first we had run. There were groups of people drawing all around the building and three generations from several families working beside each other. It was such a success, that we are eager to do it again." Based on the theme 'Great and Small' visitors of all ages are encouraged to turn up and explore ways of depicting the building around them in a variety of media: pencil drawings, collage, paper sculpture, 'stained glass' pictures or rubbings. No previous experience is necessary, just turn up and try something new. Materials will be provided free of charge; the only condition is that children must be accompanied by an adult. For the rest of the week there are other opportunities to come and
explore
the Abbey. A free children's trail leaflet, or a Family Explorer
Bag
for In addition on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday guides will lead specially designed short Family Trails, starting at 11.00am or 2.00pm. And the Café at the Abbey will have a Children's menu available all week. Do come along and see what you can find, or draw, when you explore a little. FAMILIES RAISE £25,000 FOR CATHEDRAL CHORISTERSHIP
The families’ efforts in raising funds and sponsorship for the Girls tour of the Eastern United States last autumn had been so successful that there was also sufficient to endow a chorister’s place in the Choir. Everyone agreed that it should be named after the choir’s founding Director, Andrew Parnell, who served as Assistant Master of the Music until 2001 and Andrew was at Evensong to present the medal to the first holder, Joanna Innes-Hopkins. Simon Johnson, current Director of the Abbey Girls Choir said “ We are most grateful to all choristers, their families and supporters for this tremendous achievement to support our present and future musical life. We pay tribute to those who had the vision to establish the Abbey Girls Choir and look forward to its continued musical development and role in leading worship at the Abbey”. Medals were also presented to the Alban (Head) Chorister and senior choristers who have additional responsibilities to assist the music staff in running the Choir and to give leadership and pastoral care to younger choristers. A similar ceremony was held on l9th September too for the boys of the Cathedral Choir when they also celebrated the institution of the Stocker Choristership when John Dean became the first holder of the medal. This Choristership was created through a gift of £25,000 from the Pallant Trust in memory of Barbara Stocker. The Cathedral Choir of boys and men and the Abbey Girls Choir sing on a daily basis during term time and make regular broadcasts and recordings. They are regarded as amongst the finest choirs in the country and each enjoys an international reputation. This achievement is all the more remarkable as unlike many other cathedrals, the choristers do not attend a special choir school. The boys or the girls, aged between 7 and 14, assemble at the Cathedral each weekday morning to rehearse for an hour before going on to their local schools. They return after school for more rehearsal and to sing Evensong. The twelve lay clerks (the men of the Cathedral Choir) join the boys and sometimes the girls at weekends and special services. A two hour practice each Friday evening is followed by Evensong on Saturday afternoons and two or sometimes three services on Sundays. As part of the Cathedral Campaign to raise £6.4 million, £2.7
million is needed to build an endowment fund to secure the future
of this internationally renowned musical life. It costs £25,000
to endow a boy or girl choristership in perpetuity and £50,000
for a lay clerkship. So far, 8 boy and 4 girl choristerships and
2 lay clerkships have been endowed in the name of their benefactors
but with over 40 boys and girls and 12 men in the two Cathedral choirs,
there is still a long way to go. If you would like to know how you
can help, please get in touch with Valerie James on 01727 890231
or write to her at St Albans Cathedral Campaign, Sumpter Yard, St
Albans AL1 1BY 27th September 2004 |
St Albans Cathedral is doing its best to help parents and grandparents
keep
children entertained during the October half-term.
Evensong at St Albans Cathedral last Sunday was a very special occasion
when families and friends of the Abbey Girls Choir helped celebrate
the institution of the Parnell Choristership - they had raised £25,000
to endow it in perpetuity.