The Cathedral Church of St Anne
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THE CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF ST ANNE DIGESTJUNE / JULY 2019 Schoolboy pilots are honoured Pages 10-11 Dean Stephen Forde escorts HRH The Duke of York from the Cathedral following a Thanksgiving Service for Sacha, Duchess of Abercorn, on Thursday May 30, attended by more than 800 guests. Full report on pages 8-9. Cathedral Digest 3 A time of change - Dean Stephen reflects... or many, June marks the end of a position busy academic year. For teachers, of Organ Fthere is the flurry of school reports Scholar or end of year concerts. For pupils, the at Sidney end of exams and the expectation of a Sussex long summer holiday. For students, ex- College in Cambridge, and Catherine ams are completed and results awaited. Harper, who has been vocal coach to our choristers. For everyone, the month of long evenings is often a time of change. In a summer of musical changes we thank each one for their commitment, June will be such a month for us. On wish them well for the future, and look Sunday evening June 16, we shall wel- forward to new faces and new talent come the Belfast Community joining us in September. Gospel Choir to fill the Cathedral with their harmonious enthusiasm. Sunday flowers And on Saturday June 22, we welcome We would like to acknowledge the the King’s Singers for their only Irish kind donations of flowers as performance this year. We expect lovers follows: of choral music to travel from every corner of our province to hear them sing June 2 - Margaret Wilkinson in in a major fund raising event for our memory of Noel Wilkinson. Cathedral finances. Do make sure that June 9 - Jean Fox, thanksgiving gift. you also have purchased your ticket. June 16 - Dr Alan McCormack in deep & loving memory of William But the musical changes of June will Thomas McCormack; husband, also impact us at St Anne’s. Some of our father & inspiration. longstanding choristers have reached Stanley and Noreen McIlroy in the end of their school careers in Belfast, memory of parents. and hope to study ‘across the water.’ June 23 & 30 - Canon Noble Hamilton in memory of Pat Hamilton. Evensong on Sunday June 23 will be July 28 & August 4 - Michael & a celebration of all that our choirs have Barbara Callender. achieved under the Direction of David August 11 - Ronnie Lawrenson in Stevens over the past seven years, memory of Berta McMillen. because at the end of this summer, August 18 - Ronnie Lawrenson in David will also be leaving us to take up memory of Dean Sammy Crooks. a new position at the prestigious Wells Cathedral. To make a donation towards the provision of Sunday flowers, please Also leaving for new musical challenges email admin@belfastcathedral or will be Jack Wilson, as he takes up the speak to Chris Weir in reception. 2 Cathedral Digest Saying Goodbye Service with The Mariposa Trust ‘We are named, so we are known... for all eternity’ ames matter, Dean Stephen birth,” Dean Forde explained. Forde told families who gath- ered on Sunday June 2 for the “In creating these services, to give Nannual Saying Goodbye service. comfort, help and hope to bereaved parents, such as yourselves, at the They matter, the Dean said, most painful and difficult time in your ‘because when we are named, lives, every word and every phrase so we are known, for all of time and was carefully and powerfully all of eternity.’ considered.” The Saying Goodbye service is for He said many of those who contribut- anyone who has lost a baby at any ed to the formation of these services stage of pregnancy, at birth or in early spoke from their own experience. years, or who has been affected by a family member or friend’s loss. The Dean shared some of the prayers the Church has written for these This year, the Mariposa Trust, which services. runs these services across the UK, extended the services to welcome “Let me offer these prayers to you anyone who is grieving the fact that today, as you each remember a tiny they haven’t had children. life conceived and created, longed for and loved, yet a person who found Baby loss affects around one in four God’s eternity before they found all pregnancies each year in the UK, with the challenges, and conflicts of the nearly 700 babies lost each day. life that you and I live every day.” Addressing the congregation, Dean The Dean spoke of the Cathedral’s Forde said the Church of Ireland, at ‘Remember our Child’ books, which its General Synod in May, had agreed hold the names of many children who to introduce two new services. died before, or soon after, their birth. “The first service is a form of words “They too are offered and and prayers for the Naming of a remembered this afternoon, because Child who has died in the womb when we are named, then we are before birth, or who has died within known: We are known to those who hours of birth, but not been have loved us deeply, even through baptised. The second service is a grief and loss, and we are known to funeral service where a tiny life has God, who has written our name on the been lost due to miscarriage or still palm of his hand,” the Dean said. Cathedral Digest 3 The eventual winners, Harding Memorial Primary School. Schools’ Choir of the Year he Cathedral was packed on May The competition was once again 15 for the third annual St Anne supported by Belfast City Council, and TTrust Belfast Primary School Choir this year also enjoyed sponsorship from of the Year Competition. the Arts Council of Northern Ireland. Eight primary schools put on amazing The Lord Mayor said: “This is an performances, singing two songs each, excellent competition that brings together giving this year’s adjudicator, BBC Art schools from diverse backgrounds in all and Music Producer Richard Yarr, a very four corners of our city.” difficult task. After all the choirs had performed, the It was an close competition, with 400 children, along with teachers and Harding Memorial Primary School taking parents, were led in communal singing first place, followed by Victoria College by Laura McFall of Opera NI. Preparatory School. In third place was Glenwood Primary School. The Awards were presented by Lord Mayor Hargey and Ms McDonough, who Pupils, teachers and parents were said the event had been inspiring and welcomed by the Chairman of the St uplifting. “There is no finer event than Anne Trust, Mr Joseph Watson. this to hear children’s voices rise up as they did. You are all a credit to your Adding his welcome, Dean Stephen schools. I hope you look back on this day Forde, said: “I know that you have been with great fondness and a sense of joyful practising for this for many weeks, and achievement,” Ms McDonough said. today your hard work will pay off. I want this to be a day you will remember long Every school received a Certificate of after you leave here.” Performance. 4 Cathedral Digest Energetic singing from St Patrick’s Primary School The choir of Cranmore Integrated PS. Announcing the winners, Mr Yarr said: nuala Jay-O’Boyle and Mr Richard Jay. “It has been an absolute joy to be here. It was a real celebration of music. The The competition ended with the singing skills you learn in a choir are skills for of a blessing by Cathedral Board life. I was once a chorister in this Member Mr Nick Pierpoint. Cathedral, and in the choir I learned about team work, commitment, attention The St Anne Trust was established in to detail, and confidence.” 2016 to advance education and promote arts, culture and heritage by promoting Among the guests were Her Majesty’s good relations with and between young Lord Lieutenant for Belfast, Mrs Fion- people and their families. Pupils from Harberton Special School and Jordanstown School who took part in the Come & Sing Day on May 16. Smiles say it all on Come & Sing Day he smiles and laughter said it all performing their two chosen songs. on day two of The St Anne Trust Some of the children relayed the song TBelfast Primary Schools’ Choir of lyrics through sign language. the Year competition when pupils from two Special Schools took centre stage! Jordanstown Choir sang the very popular ‘A Million Dreams’ and ‘You’ve got a The Come & Sing Day featured the friend,’ while Harberton delighted the choirs of Jordanstown School and audience with ‘Flying Machine’ and Harberton Special School. Led by the ‘She’ll be coming round the mountain.’ talented ladies from Opera NI, the boys and girls took part in a series of music Congratulations to all the young people and dance workshops, before involved – it was a truly uplifting morning. Cathedral Digest 5 Funeral of murdered journalist he eyes of the world were on St Anne’s on April 24 when the packed congregation: “In the words of TCathedral hosted a service of Lyra herself, ‘We must change our own thanksgiving for the life of Lyra McKee. world, one piece at a time’.” The 29-year-old journalist was shot dead Writing in the Belfast Telegraph, journal- by a dissident republican group during ist Alf McCreary said the service in St unrest in Londonderry on April 18. Anne’s had been ‘a model of simplicity.’ The service was jointly led by Dean “It was an attractive blend of the old and Stephen Forde and parish priest Fr the new, with two ancient but still widely Martin Magill, whose impassioned plea popular hymns interspersed with more to politicians was reported by the global modern pieces performed by Gareth media.