The choir will travel from East Yorkshire to visit us for our Evensong and Choral Eucharist services on 26 & 27 July. Choirmaster Paul Dewhurst shares his links with Chelmsford Cathedral over the years, as well as an insight into his repertoire.
The choir dates all the way back to 1450, what does its long history bring to the choir today?
“When I first arrived at the Priory I was struck by how proud the whole congregation was of its choir and musical heritage. Of course it is not an unbroken tradition, and like most choirs in this country it actually dates from the mid-nineteenth century, but being able to trace roots back much further makes the children in particular feel proud to be part of something much older which they are helping to preserve for the future.”
How did you become involved with the Bridlington Priory Choir?
“I started at the Priory in January 2020 and within a few weeks we went into the first Covid lockdown, not a great way to start a new job! Like many choirs we had a go at online singing, which occupied many hours of my time. In the gap between lockdowns, I started the Priory Girls' Choir. It wasn't the best timing but I was determined there must be a girls' choir and was eager to get that started.
"We sang as separate choirs for a few months, but recruitment at that time was impossibly hard and many of the boys voices had changed during the periods of lockdown. We have been singing as a mixed treble line for a few years now.”
Do you often visit other cathedrals and churches?
“The annual choir camp has happened for many years, but it is only in recent years that we have included singing at a cathedral as part of it. I always say when sports teams take their members on singing holidays, that is when I will take my choirs on non-singing holidays! Last year we visited St Asaph Cathedral and the year before Derby Cathedral. We have also recently sung in Wakefield and Sheffield cathedrals. I knew Chelmsford well in the 1990's at the time the new organs were installed. I was organist of St James the Great in Colchester and often deputised at the cathedral, as well as being involved in a number of courses by the Royal School of Church Music (RSCM) at the cathedral. I am looking forward to seeing it again.”
Can you tell us about the repertoire you have planned for your visit?
“We recently learned Mozart's Missa Brevis in F major, and we will be singing that at the Eucharist on the Sunday morning, it is one of the children's favourites! I find children respond to, and recognise, great music. Sunday evening's anthem is going to be A Celtic Prayer by former Chelmsford Director of Music, Peter Nardone. Peter wrote this piece for the Priory Choir in memory of John Hughes, who had been a long-standing assistant organist of the Priory and who sadly died of a stroke in 2021.”
Do you have plans for the rest of your trip?
“We will have about eight of the children with us and it is they who shape the activities we will take part in! We are looking forward to visiting Mountfitchet Castle and we will spend a day in London visiting St Paul's Cathedral, where a former Priory chorister is the current organ scholar. We will also pay a visit to Southend pier because, whilst the seaside is not a novelty to us, Bridlington sadly lacks a pier!”
Bridlington Priory Choir will singing at Evensong and Choral Eucharist services on the 26 and 27 July.