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CATHEDRAL HISTORY – A PICTORIAL RECORD Sunday 25 October: 1970 The Cathedral Choir sings in St Peter’s, Rome at the Mass of the Canonisation of the Forty Martyrs of England & Wales

Paul Tobin

In May 1970 Pope St Paul Vl announced the canonisation of the Forty Martyrs, a cause that had originally been instigated in the time of Cardinal Henry Edward Manning (Archbishop of Westminster 1865-1892) when a number of martyrs were beatified. Two of these, Bishop John Fisher and Thomas More had been canonised in 1935. The cause of 40 of the others was taken up in earnest by Cardinal William Godfrey (Archbishop of Westminster 1956-1963), with the eminent Jesuits Frs Philip Caraman, James Walsh and Clement Tigar acting as Vice-Postulants for the cause during the 1960s.

What made this a unique event in the history of the Cathedral Choir was that it was the first occasion that any choir, other than the Sistine, had ever sung at a Papal Ceremony in St Peter’s. In granting permission, Mgr (later Cardinal) Domenico Bartolucci, Maestro Perpetuo of the Sistine Choir, acknowledged that this was a particular event in the history of the Church in England and Wales. For the record, the choir sang the Kyrie, Gloria and Agnus Dei from the Mass for Five Voices by William Byrd. Image 1 shows the Papal procession at the beginning of the Mass; in the front row of seats are a number of cardinals, among whom is Cardinal John Carmel Heenan, then Archbishop of Westminster (second left) with Cardinal William Conway (Archbishop of Armagh 1963-1977) next but one. Behind the two empty gold-backed chairs and prie-dieu, are two figures in black, one of whom is instantly recognisable as Abbot Basil Hume of Ampleforth, who was

to succeed Cardinal Heenan as Archbishop of Westminster in 1976. Immediately next to him is Abbot Victor Farwell of Worth. The figure in the front row of the tribune behind is the Dr H R Smythe, Head of the Anglican Centre in Rome, representing the Archbishop of Canterbury. The Mass was celebrated by the Holy Father alone, for concelebrated Masses had nor become as popular as they were later to be. Bear in mind that the Ordinary Form of Mass (Novus Ordo Missae) had only been in use for less than a year.

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Image 2 shows Cardinal Paolo Bertoli as Cardinal Prefect of the Sacred Congregation of the Cause of the Saints inviting the Holy Father to proclaim the new saints. Note the mitred Cardinal Deacons sitting either side of the Pope, with the Principal Master of Ceremonies, Mgr (later Cardinal) Vigilio Noe immediately to the right. Image 3 shows the Cathedral Choir to the right, with Colin Mawby (1936-2019, Master of Music 1961-78) standing apart from the main group.

Acknowledgments: The Tablet 31 October 1970; Pontificia Fotografia Felici (donated by Mrs Christine Kiely, Cathedral staff, in February 2000)