Taking the Waters
“Taking the waters” at Harrogate took on a new meaning this Sunday as Schola members visited the spa town on a relentlessly rainy Sunday to sing during the 11:30 Mass at the centrally-based St. Robert’s Church, accompanied by Mr Conyngham. We were warmly welcomed by the Parish Priest, Fr Donal Lucey and by his assistant Fr Stephen Webb, the celebrant.
Based in the organ loft of the high-ceilinged church, the students’ repertoire included: Praise to the Holiest; a setting of the Mass by Franz Schmidt, and a solo rendition by Raphael Gould and Rupert Waley respectively of the Schmidt Gloria and of The Majesty of the Divine Humiliation from John Stainer’s Crucifixion.
The congregation was very complimentary and appreciative of the choir’s contribution to the liturgy and we were invited to return in the near future.
Afterwards, Mr Higham and Mr Conyngham drove the choir to lunch in a nearby pizza restaurant – followed closely by Fr Philip. A highlight of the lunch was the agreeable dilemma to see how many varieties of ‘extras’ could be added from the self-service ice-cream dispenser. As we left, it was still raining, but this had not dampened spirits in the least.