The Coronation Part 2
No sooner had the Big Screen been dismantled and the chairs moved back into place, than preparations for Coronation Day Festal Evensong began.
The Combined Choirs of Malvern Priory were joined by local RSCM singers in a service of glorious Coronation music. Piers Maxim, Priory Director of Music, conducted the World Premiere of ‘The King Shall Rejoice’, a wonderfully majestic anthem for full choir and solo soprano, complemented by Handel’s ‘Zadok’, Rose Responses and Psalm 121 set to Walford Davies’ chant. The talk of the 140-strong congregation, the anthem can be heard on our GMP Music youtube channel.
Sunday saw a double celebration - of Confirmation and Coronation.
The four young Priory people recently confirmed at services in Worcester Cathedral and Malvern College each received beautiful Bibles, illustrated by local artist, Hannah Dunnett, at the 10.30 Parish Communion, before they received Communion for the first time.
After the service a very popular Bring and Share lunch, in honour of the new King and Queen was enjoyed by the congregation. In the light of Coronation Day weather, the upper room of the Lyttelton Rooms was laid out and decorated with yet more bunting and Coronation tableware…so, predictably, the sun shone outside! Windows were flung open and the hall buzzed with happiness and shared memories of royal events over the years.
It was a very special occasion for one newly-fledged bellringer, who had taken up bellringing just before Christmas and graduated to the main band of bellringers for the first time, ringing on both Coronation Day and before the Sunday service. She enthusiastically shared the joy of her new hobby and the new muscles - both from pulling the bell rope and climbing the stairs to the ringing chamber. New bellringers are always welcome, why not give it a go?
And if you were inspired to consider volunteering by the Big Help Out, we’d love to hear from you.
The Priory simply couldn’t run without volunteers - from tea and coffee people, flower arrangers, singers, Friends’ Shop volunteers, servers, PCC members, Lifepath, service tech, even to this website, there are a myriad opportunities to share your skills with like-minded folk. Take a look at our volunteering page.
Long Live the King!
