Hexham Abbey News. Volunteers Congregation Staff. A Festival Thank you. Conservation Notes. 24th September 2017

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1 A Festival Thank you Volunteers Congregation Staff Hexham Abbey News 24th September 2017 A big thank you to all the stewards, supporters, organisers and the stage team who have helped to make this year s Hexham Abbey Festival possible. There is a huge amount of behind the scenes work that goes into making the festival such a success. Hopefully you will have been able to make it along to a few, or all, of the HAF events! There was a wonderful variety of performances on this year s programme. Hopefully everyone will have found something to their taste or have discovered something new. And it isn t over yet! The combined Abbey Boys and Girls choirs sing Spatzenmesse or Sparrow Mass as the Setting for today s Festival Eucharist. First performed at an Easter mass in Salzburg Cathedral in April 1776, the nickname is derived from the figures in the Hosanna which resemble the chirping of birds. The Very Revd Michael Sadgrove is our guest preacher today and we extend a warm welcome to Keith Dale, our new Assistant Organist. And there s more! Stay on after the Eucharist for the Coffee Concert and listen to Martin Hughes, joint Festival Director and violinist, and David Murray, HAFC director and pianist, perform while you enjoy a coffee and a croissant. Bon Appetit! Conservation Notes Leafing through my copy of Hodges huge history of the Abbey (1888) for something totally different, my eye was caught by this drawing of the spiral stair that, until 1908, gave access to the top of the screen. Something about that odd little corbel supporting the top step looked familiar. On checking my photo collection I realised that it is currently lying, on its side in the north choir aisle opposite the candle stand, and it appears not previously to have been recognised for what it plainly is! Why during the 1908 alterations to the screen that one stone was thought worthy of retention is anyone s guess, but it makes me wonder how many more carved stones in our collection could be identified for their original location or use with some more research or happy accidents like this one? Chris Britton

2 Who s Who? This week we meet Keith Dale our new Assistant Organist! Here is a little bit about him Keith is a native of North Yorkshire where he began organ studies with the late Ronald Perrin at Ripon Cathedral and harpsichord studies with Alan Cuckston. Keith attended the Birmingham Conservatoire, taking organ lessons with Mark Shepherd at Lichfield Cathedral and harpsichord lessons with David Ponsford and Lucy Carolan. After graduation Keith took up the post of Organist & Director of Music at St Edmund's Church, Roundhay, Leeds. In tandem with this post, he undertook postgraduate study at the University of Huddersfield. His teachers were Dr Graham Cummings and John Scott Whiteley. In 1996, he was awarded the Master of Arts degree in music (performance) and was the first recipient of the Hollingworth organ prize. From , Keith was Organist & Director of Music at the Anglican Church of the Holy Trinity, Geneva, Switzerland. During his fourteen years there, he oversaw the church's distinguished music programme, combining this with the post of music teacher at Collège du Léman where he taught over 120 nationalities. Keith then moved to the Far East where he taught piano and music theory at one of Bangkok's oldest music schools - the Robinson School of Music. Keith has broadcast several times on Swiss National Radio and TV as both organist and choral director. He has given recitals in the UK, Switzerland, Italy, France, Spain and the USA. We warmly welcome Keith to Hexham Abbey. Congregation News READERS, INTERCESSORS & LAY ASSISTANTS The October-November rota has been ed out and is now up in the outer vestry. If you are a reader, intercessor or lay assistant and did not receive an please could you Emily on admin@hexhamabbey.org.uk. Thankyou! HARVEST COLLECTION : Please bring donations for the West Northumberland Food Bank to our Harvest Services on Sunday 1 st October. They are particularly short of the following items: Tinned fish and meat Tinned potatoes Custard/Rice Pudding UHT long life milk (full fat) Shampoo Shower Gel Toothpaste disposable razors Cat/dog food JAR LIDS PLEASE! Here s one I made earlier Jane and Toni need your help! Please can you collect large jar lids and bring them in to the parish office for soon-to be-revealed crafty purposes. Many thanks. JAM, PRESERVES AND CHUTNEY It s jam making time please keep the Christmas Fair in mind and fill a few extra jars for the Jam Stall at this year s Christmas Fair (Saturday 9th December). Keep them somewhere safe and drop them off at the end of November. Thank you! ABBEY LIBRARY THE FINAL CHAPTER Before the summer holiday we put up for grabs the books which formed the Abbey library. Some were taken and some remain. There will be a final opportunity to take books next Sunday, 1st October, after all the services. Please help find a good home for these books. PRAYERS FOR PALESTINE As usual on the last Saturday of the month an ecumenical group will meet for prayers for the people of Palestine. The meeting lasts about half an hour and includes updates on the current situation. All are welcome. The next meeting is on Saturday 30th September, Wilfrid s Chapel at 12.30pm Alan Currie appreciates your prayers and concern. He is working to recover from a complex condition affecting his lungs. Doctors anticipate recovery but it s a slow progress. No visiting please, but afternoon phone calls are welcome:

3 Upcoming Events MOTHERS UNION and friends! The Mothers Union has produced a resource booklet to accompany the release of Victoria and Abdul. The Hexham Branch will be going to see the film at the Forum at 2:30pm on Tuesday 26th September, and staying on to discuss it over coffee afterwards. Everyone is welcome. Please let Matthew know by Sunday 24th September, TODAY, if you d like a ticket. Cost: CHRISTIAN MEDITATION in the Abbey, Monday 25th September, 5.30pm This will be a one-off gathering, with the hope of having some more regular meetings during October/November. Anyone who is interested in experiencing this ancient form of prayer is very welcome. No previous experience needed. Further info/questions: Bridget Hewitt / bridget.hewitt@btopenworld.com or just turn up! SILVER SCREEN Classic Cinema and scones! This month Casablanca will be shown on Thursday 28th September at 2.30pm in the North Transept. Free event. Donations welcome. TRAIDCRAFT SALE AND COFFEE MORNING, Saturday 30th September, 10-12noon. In the small hall at Trinity Methodist Church. CHURCHES TOGETHER IN HEXHAM Annual General Meeting. Tuesday 3rd October, 9.15am, at Trinity Methodist Church. All welcome. Screen@6, Saturday 7th October, 6pm Why wait until Sunday to get together? Monthly movie, film chat, and conversation. This month come and watch Inside Out in Etheldreda Room with popcorn! For more information contact Matthew Hunter T: or E: assocpriest@hexhamabbey.org.uk MESSY CHURCH, Sunday 8th October, pm Come and join an afternoon of fun, craft, story, and food. Everyone is welcome, young and old alike. Adults, children, teenagers, carers, grandparents, everyone! If you are a child please bring an adult with you. Held in the North Transept. Free entry. CTiH NOW IS THE TIME TO WORSHIP An Evening of Christian celebration on Saturday 14th October, pm at Tynedale Function Suite, Hexham Auction Mart. Free admission. Donations welcome. NEWCASTLE GUITAR ORCHESTRA Saturday 21st October, 7.30pm at Hexham Abbey Programme to include concerto in D Major for Lute by Vivaldi and the Fantasia para un Gentilhombre by Rodrigo, and the famous Adagio from the Concierto d Aranjuez. Tickets Venue: The Abbey FORTHCOMING: HOLY LAND PILGRIMAGE, 2nd-11th October 2018 Led by the Dean of Durham and Dagmar our Rector. The brochures have arrived, do take one from the table in the Abbey if you are interested. There will be an information evening with the Dean of Durham, Dagmar and with a representative from McCabe in Durham on Wednesday, 4 October, 7:00 9:00pm in Prior s Hall of Durham Cathedral. In order to facilitate car sharing/lifts, please have a word with Dagmar or leave a message with contact details in the Parish Office stating whether you require or could offer a lift. For those looking for something closer to home, there will also be an information event on Saturday 21st October, 10am, in the Wilfrid Room. LUNCHTIME LIVE: THE OCTOBER SERIES Director of Music, Michael Haynes has put together a fantastic programme of music for lunchtimes this October! These short and varied concerts begin at 1pm in the Abbey and everyone is welcome. Beginning the series on Tuesday 3rd October is Michael himself on the Phelps Organ. On the following Tuesdays Robert Laws will be on the piano (10th), Charlie s Community Choir will give a choral offering (17th), our new assistant organist Keith Dale will be on the Organ (24th), and the soprano Carolyne Storey will be singing on Tuesday 31st. In addition to these Tuesday concerts there will be a performance of Choral Music by William Mundy titled Sine Nomine on Saturday 14th October at 1pm. Do come along if you can. Free entry, retiring collection. KNOCK KNOCK! HERE S A QUESTION Does anyone have a large, brass door knocker that Toni could use for creative purposes? Any potential knockers to the Parish Office!

4 Sunday 24th September 15th Sunday After Trinity Green 8.30am President 10.00am Holy Communion Matthew Hunter Festival Eucharist President Dagmar Winter Reader Carolyn Goodwin Preacher Michael Sadgrove Intercessor Fiona Finnon Festival Choral Evensong Officiant Nigel Warner Reader Richard Snow Readings Ezekiel 33:23,30-34:10; Acts 26:1,9-25 Canticles Stanford in C Hymns 360, 489 Anthem Duruflé Ubi caritas Response Smith Responses Organ Franck Prelude, Fugue and Variation Psalm 150 (Stanford) Abbey Services Diary for the week beginning Monday 25th September 9.00am Morning Prayer and 5.00pm Evening Prayer (unless Choral Evensong) Tuesday 26th 12.00pm Holy Communion Dagmar Winter Wednesday 27th Thursday 28th 10.15am Holy Communion Dagmar Winter Tots Praise Choral Evensong Matthew Hunter Holy Communion Matthew Hunter Prayer Group (Elizabeth Fish tel ) Choral Evensong Dagmar Winter Saturday 30th 2.00pm Marriage of Gary McKie and Danielle Steele Sunday 1st October 16th Sunday After Trinity Green 8.30am Holy Communion President Matthew Hunter 10.00am Harvest Abbey Praise Led by Dagmar Winter with the Fair Trade stall young people 11.45am Holy Communion Book of Common Prayer President Matthew Hunter Choral Evensong Officiant Frank Dexter Reader David Ratcliff Readings Ezekiel 3:15-end ; 1 John 2:22-end For Your Prayers We pray for those who are unwell or who have asked for our prayers: Edna O Neil, Sheila Jackson, Yvonne Roberts, Doreen Beniams, Alan Currie, Peter Barclay, Christopher Brown. We pray for those who have died and all those who mourn: Peggy Patterson, Ethel Robinson, Stan Batey, Hazel Cessford, Robert Lorimer Contact the Parish Office T: / E: admin@hexhamabbey.org.uk or visit the website:

5 LUNCHTIME LIVE OCTOBER 2017 Tuesday 3rd Michael Haynes Organ Tuesday 10th Robert Laws Piano Saturday 14th Sine Nomine Choral Music by William Mundy Tuesday 17th Charlie s Community Choir Choral Tuesday 24th Keith Dale Organ Tuesday 31st Carolyne Storey Soprano All concerts are at 1pm Free entry - retiring collection Short and varied concerts in Hexham Abbey