Festival of Saint Cecilia service held at Westminster Abbey
Thursday, 25th November 2010
The Festival of St Cecilia service was held at Westminster Abbey on Wednesday 24th November 2010. The choirs of Westminster Abbey, St Paul’s Cathedral and Westminster Cathedral came together to sing the premiere of an anthem specially commissioned by the Musicians Benevolent Fund with the help of the RVW Trust: ‘Vast Ocean of Light’, by Jonathan Dove.
The festival service rotates between St Paul’s Cathedral, Westminster Abbey and Westminster Cathedral. The music is sung by the combined choirs of the three churches and a new anthem is specially commissioned each year. The Service also features a robed procession by the City Livery Companies.
The Very Reverend Dr John Hall, Dean of Westminster gave the Bidding and the Address was given by The Reverend The Lord Griffiths of Burry Port.
Sean Rafferty read 1 Samuel 16: 14-23 and Diane Louise Jordan read John 7: 37-52. Prayers were led by the Reverend Michael Macey, Minor Canon of Westminster.
The combined choirs were conducted by Robert Quinney, Sub-Organist of Westminster Abbey and the organ was played by James McVinnie, Assistant Organist, Westminster Abbey.
The Festival of St Cecilia, a Musicians Benevolent Fund annual event, is a celebration of the Patron Saint of Music and Musicians. The festival has been held in London each year since 1946, on the Wednesday nearest to St Cecilia’s Day, 22nd November.
