Tales from Canterbury - part VII

Sunday was our first day with a full sung Mass at the Cathedral. We celebrate Eucharist every day, along with Matins and Evensong; however Eucharist is usually said, not sung, and any hymns are a cappello. Today the Mass included the Cathedral Choir, perhaps you can tell that I am overwhelmed by this choir.

The Eucharist is celebrated at the High Altar. When it is time for Communion the choir processes to the High Altar to receive first; this is not unusual otherwise Communion hymns become an issue. Now here is the difference, the choir did not process back to their seats.

Following the reception of Communion the choir ascended twelve steps above and behind the High Altar to the area known as Trinity Chapel. This is where the shrine to Saint Thomas Beckett stood prior to 1538 when King Henry VIII had it destroyed. From this lofty position above the High Altar the choir began to sing without accompaniment. The song choice was Psalm 150. During the administration of Eucharist the entire Cathedral reverberated with the voices of the choir and these words:

Hallelujah!

Praise God in his holy temple;

praise him in the firmament of his power.

Praise him for his mighty acts;

praise him for his excellent greatness.

Praise him with the blast of the ram’s-horn;

praise him with lyre and harp.

Praise him with timbrel and dance;

praise him with strings and pipe.

Praise him with resounding cymbals;

praise him with loud-clanging cymbals.

Let everything that has breath

praise the Lord.

Hallelujah!

High above the altar these words of praise rang out. There were no projection screen TVs, no praise band, no smoke machine, no flashing lights. Simply the sound of twenty seven pure voices singing praise to the Lord.

This simple act took my breath away.

Peace and Blessings from our Anglican home,