Music and Choir

Alistair Auld, the cathedral organist, and members of the Manama Singers who perform under his direction, provided wonderful music and anthems.

O Taste and See composed by Ralph Vaughan Williams and Sir Edward Elgar's setting of Ave Verum Corpus were sung during communion.  Yet, it was And to the Glory of the Lord from George Frederick Handel's The Messiah, prior to the Collation and the Institution/Installation, which was the "jewel in the crown" of the choral singing.

Together with hymns (chosen by the Dean) and the concluding organ voluntary (Henri Mulet's Carillon Sortie played by Alistair) all musical elements were recorded.  It hoped that a CD will be available in due course for those who may wish to listen to that music and singing again, or hear it for the first time.
 

Members of the Manama Singers performing "And to the Glory of the Lord"

Fellowship

Following the service, a reception was held in the Alun Morris Hall.  This requires no commentary, just a montage of photographs which speaks for itself through the captions.

Guests from Qatar

David Axtell and John Banfield (Diocesan Financial Adviser)

British Ambassador, H.E. Jamie Bowden and his wife Sarah with the Dean

Jill Boyd (Chairperson, Social Committee) with her husband Stuart

Double Celebration

A hallmark of St. Christopher's Cathedral's tradition is that no celebration is allowed to pass without a cake being cut and shared among the throng.  This time, there were two celebrations - "Congratulations to Bill and Edie" and "Welcome to Chris and Tricia" - so a double blessing, two cakes!