Our Morning Service

Over the past months, the PCC in consultation with the Worship Committee has been discussing the right framework for our Sunday morning Communion Service. What we have been using has evolved over the years, so that it now includes elements drawn from old and new Services. 

The decision has been made for St Mary’s to use what is called Common Worship Order 1. These are the reasons:

1. The musical content we currently use can all continue to be included.
2. Order 1 allows flexibility as to the use of prayers, especially the Communion Prayer.
3. It includes rich ‘seasonal’ material, ie around the Festivals (we have been using some of this the past year).
4. The hope is that it will contribute to make our worship more accessible, although we recognise that for this other things will also be needed. When children return to church, we will be developing the All Family Services we began a year ago.

Southwell Minster are running a series of online talks as part of the Leaves of Southwell project, sponsored by the Heritage Fund. ‘Masons and Carvers: Recent work at the Minster, building the chapter house and cutting the leaves’ talk was the first of these last Tuesday, which you can watch again on the link below:

DATE FOR YOUR DIARY
The next talk is on Tuesday 23^rd February 2021, ‘Re-Leaf: Seeing the Chapter House in a new light’, led by Nick Rank, Cathedral Architect.  To book your place and to find out more, please visit the website:  https://www.southwellminster.org/events/event/releaf/

Edward Byrne, St Mary’s Organ Scholar, has been successful in appointment to a prestigious post at Worcester Cathedral.

Edward fought off competition to be appointed as Organ Scholar at the cathedral, commencing in September 2021 after completing his studies at Loughborough Grammar School.  His duties will include playing for cathedral services, accompanying the choir, assisting with the training of choristers and managing the music library.  He will gain tutelage and guidance from the music staff of the cathedral, including Director of Music Samuel Hudson and Assistant Director of Music Nicholas Freestone.

Edward has been Organ Scholar at St Mary’s since 2019 and will continue in his role until he leaves for Worcester. Edward has made a huge contribution to the musical offering of the church as well as benefiting from tutelage by John Keys and accompanying the church’s fine choir.

Edward says of his achievement, “I am incredibly excited to start working at Worcester Cathedral next year. It will be an amazing opportunity to contribute to the musical life of the Cathedral and also the opportunity to take part in the Three Choirs Festival. I am certain that this would not be possible without my scholarship here at St Mary’s. I am indebted to John Keys for all of the support and opportunities he has given me over the last two years. I will really miss St Mary’s but I look forward to coming back and playing when I’m in the area!”