Over the weekend of October 18th/19th St Paul’s welcomed former members of the Crypt Choir of the King’s School Canterbury, under the School’s Director of Music, Will Bersey. This was the third visit to St Paul’s of members and former members of the Choir over the past thirteen years. The first part of the concert on the Saturday evening was a selection of religious and secular works, including George Dyson’s Magnificat in F, Charles Villiers Stanford’s Nunc Dimittis in B flat, Never Weather-Beaten Sail by Richard Shepherd and Ubi Caritas by David Briggs. The second part of the programme was a memorable performance of the Fauré Requiem, including a beautiful Pie Jesu sung by Grace Stephens-Spada. The choir was accompanied by Toby Davies, an outstanding young organist currently studying at the Royal College of Music in London.
The Choir also sang at the Eucharist service on Sunday morning taken by the Suffragan Bishop of Europe, singing a challenging setting of the Kyrie, Gloria and Agnus Die by Jonathan Dove. We were privileged to have as organist for this service Jamie Rogers, who is Assistant Organist of Canterbury Cathedral (and who had accompanied the Choir during the first half of Saturday’s concert). The final hymn (number 677) was specifically chosen because of the link to King’s, having been written by the late Dr Robert Willis, Dean Emeritus of Canterbury, and a much loved Chairman of the Governors of the King’s School. Robert had preached at St Paul’s in September 2024 and it was therefore very fitting that the King’s choir was able to sing that hymn in his memory.
It was a memorable musical weekend and it is hoped that a further visit by the King’s choir can be organised in due course.
