£1 Friends of Blackburn Cathedral Music Newsletter No. 10 and Blackburn Cathedral Old Choristers’ Association Newsletter No. 19 July, 2004 Editor: Dr. John Bertalot, Cathedral Close, Blackburn, BB1 5AA [email protected] MESSIAH Blackburn Cathedral was packed to the doors on Satu rday, 8th May, for a magnificent performance of Messiah sung by the Cathedral Choir of men and boys and the Renaissance Singers conducted by RICHARD TANNER. There was a g alaxy of superb soloists led by our exquisite Philippa Hyd e, with chorister Tom Croxson who excelled in his own recitativ e solos. They were accompanied by the Northern Chamber Or chestra, and continuos were played by Assistant Director of Musi c GREG MORRIS at the harpsichord and Organ Scholar, ALEX DAVIES at the chamber organ. No words of praise are too high to describe this performance which was thrilling and inspiring. Every credit to Richard and his talented team of singers and musicians for producing such a 1 musical feast. MESSIAH With regard to the questions in your letter, asking about my grandfather, Tom, and father, Harold, who Alex Davies both sang in the choir of St. John’s Blackburn. Both playing organ continued in a long tradition of working in the wood trade, either Carpenters or Joiners, although my father continuo with the combined Harold was a Woodworking Machinist most of his working life. choirs in full voice Until the beginning of the behind him. 20th. cent. all first born males in the Fielding family were named Henry. My Father, Harold (who constructed the choir stalls in the Song School, 70 years ago) was the first to break with Cathedral tradition. If the tradition had Choirmen continued I would be Henry and awaiting their son Robert would also be turn to sing Henry! OC PAUL has made an Centre: effort to keep it going with his Dan Prowse, son, William Henry. Back, Stewart There has also been a long association with the Hopkinson Cathedral, formerly St. Mary's Parish Church. with Judge John b. 1770ish was the earliest I found, (was there Prowse next an older brother called Henry?). He was a Joiner and to him married Nancy Eccles in the old St. Mary's in 1795. Three of our brilliant soloists: Old St. Mary’s. Its outline can still be Philippa Hyde seen next to the restored Pavilions. (left) and Sarah Jillian Cox, and Tom Croxson Next was Henry b. 1798, who was a carpenter, married Mary Edge at St. Mary's in 1825. A Galaxy of Fieldings! That must have The In our last edition we featured been one of the new photographs of five generations 1826 last weddings in of FIELDINGS after the Church magnificent performance of the old parish Brahms’ Requiem in which OC church, which was PETER and son, JOHN, falling down, for accompanied the Renaissance the new church Singers in piano duet. (our present Peter now reveals that there cathedral Nave) were not five, but at least NINE was consecrated generations of Fieldings who the following year. have lived here during the past few centuries. Can anyone beat There is a family story which says that Mary Edge that? rode down from Tockholes to St. Mary's on a white horse to be married! Henry applied for a Marriage Bond Dear John, to the then Vicar of Blackburn, John William What an experience the Brahms was! My contemporary Whittaker. The text is quite archaic, with phrases like in the cathedral choir, OC RALPH ROBINSON, rang me to 'being sworn on the Holy Evangelists' etc. Henry actually say he couldn't come. I remember him singing Brahms’ 'Ye signed it which was something in those days. Prior to who now sorrow' so beautifully when he was a lad. 2 his marriage Henry had served several years in the Navy at After a Sunday morning service at St. John’s the end of the Napoleonic Wars. I still have his large oak sometime in 1937 I was propelled by my Father into chest that he used on board ship! T.L's presence to ask him if I could join his Choir, and Then Henry (II) b. 1832, Joiner and Carpenter, married that was the beginning of a lifetime of wonderful musical Alice Parker at St. John's in 1859, experiences. Then Henry (III) b. 1859, married Martha Ball at St. I was admitted on my birthday or thereabouts in Mary's c.1880. He was also a Joiner. 1938. This was the year T.L. was invited to be in charge There were three sons of Henry and Alice, besides of music at the Cathedral. I remember during that year Henry there was James, and Tom my Grandfather, who going for rehearsals in an upper room of what is now the married Ellen Jane Campbell at St. Michael's in 1893. Diocesan Offices. I remember in particular practising 'Let the Bright Seraphim' . Jane’s Father was Michael Campbell who was responsible for the opening of a Music Hall adjacent to the Dun Horse Hotel, then One of my lasting memories after joining the at the Darwen St. end of Market Street Lane, opposite the Cathedral Choir was T.L. sending me to get some Cathedral. It was called the Alhambra Theatre and was capable of copies from St. John’s during a Friday night rehearsal. holding up to 2,500 persons. On the opening night (May 3rd. Unfortunately it was the Blackout and I had to go 1880) the artists included Miss Florence Merry, Serio Character and Dancer; Tula, the Mexican Wonder; Miss Lottie Adams, the through two graveyards! I could go on and on reliving great skipping rope dancer; Miaco, the Boneless Wonder and the past-times but two things that do stand out in my mind Blackburn Borough Band with the Guide Temperance Band, are the Choir stalls being surrounded by scaffolding and conducted by Michael Campbell. I don't think the Theatre was a Provost WILLIAM KAY placing a radio on the front row great financial success because Michael appeared in the of the congregation to listen to Neville Chamberlain's Bankruptcy Court a few years later! speech in which war was declared on 3rd. Sept. 1939! Most of the Fieldings were born and bred in Morton St. Best wishes, Peter a little street that joined Tontine St. and Kirkham Lane, near Limbrick. When Gordon and myself were young lads we Peter is the most senior Fielding of those living in this must have passed 9, Morton St. many times, not knowing area, and OC PAUL & Rachel’s son, William, aet 3, is its historical significance. It was demolished, along with the youngest. Thanks for this amazing piece of much of old Blackburn, in the 60's. All the Fielding men Blackburnian history. Ed were either Joiners or Carpenters and worked in a woodyard on the other side of Limbrick, just below where OC Bryan Lamb’s article Barbara Castle Way is now. on Bishop Badderley, I think my Grandfather Tom the third bishop of met Janie when they were Blackburn and hero of members of St. Michael's Choir, World War 1, is still being but perhaps because of his friendship with Tom Duerden Snr. researched. As soon as it (TLD’s father) joined St. John’s is complete it will appear during WW1. Harold was in St. in our Newsletter. Watch John’s as a boy when Dr. this space! Frederick Wood was in charge and later sang tenor.In the mid twenties he worked in Southport, MORE LETTERS TO THE EDITOR met Ada and were married at St. John’s in 1929. I was born there From Mrs. Dorothy Green, whose husband FRED was in 1930 and OC GORDON such a stalwart member of our choir for many years. (BCOCA treasurer) in 1933. We all St. John’s, Blackburn What a fabulous edition of the latest Newsletter. returned to Blackburn in 1936. Congratulations on what you have produced. The photos add Tom Fielding was a lifelong friend of Tom Duerden Snr. greatly to the enjoyment. and this was probably the reason he spent his remaining I can remember the names of a family when on Whalley life singing in St. John's Choir with a wonderful line up of Road, Wilpshire. We lived next Basses including both Ferrier brothers, Tom Robinson, Jim door to GRENVILLE Rushton, Will Durham and of course, Tom Duerden Snr. ROBINSON’s grandparents – a T.L.D. took over as choirmaster in 1919, soon after he Mr. & Mrs. Harris – so I came out of the Navy. Even though the invitation to remember his Mother. become Master of the Choristers of Blackburn Cathedral I certainly hope to be able to attend the Reunion on was a position T.L. couldn't refuse, it must have been quite th a wrench to leave behind such a flourishing and close knit September 25 & 26 . family at St. John’s. The thing that didn't go down too well at St. John's was the fact that T.L. 'extracted' a number of Dear Dorothy, it will be wonderful to welcome you to our Reunion. Ed choristers who were familiar with his methods. These included MY FATHER, TOM ROBINSON, ARTHUR From OC GODFREY MCGOWAN in Blackburn (who is often HOWARTH, GEORGE FERRIER (Kathleen’s father) and seen carrying trays and helping to serve food in the cathedral’s several boys, including myself. splendid Café-in-the-Crypt.) 3 You asked about OC ALEC SIMPSON in the last Newsletter: It's been a long haul but am looking forward to being up and He is in the police force, working in Northampton.