The Choir

On being asked if he considered that the Chapel could be transferred to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners to be constituted a parish Church, "the trustees of the School retaining certain rights to the use of the building", the Archbishop expressed a decided opinion that the Commissioners would refuse to accept "a building encumbered with such conditions and connected in structure with the other buildings of the School". His Grace was then asked whether it would be posible to form Clifton into a Peel District, "to which a clergyman should be appointed who might use the Chapel as a licensed room for Divine service, leaving the question to be afterwards determined whether it should be consecrated as the Parish Church, or another building erected." The Archbishop replied that such a district could only be formed if a Church was to be built and consecrated as soon as possible. His Grace finally rejected the Committee's proposal by saying that the fund already raised for a Church at Clifton could only properly be applied to the purpose for which it was given—viz. the fabric of a Church.

As usual at the beginning of the Christmas Term there were many gaps to be filled in the Choir's ranks. Sufficient numbers of Trebles, Altos, Tenors and Basses were soon found and the result was quickly shaped by Mr. Waine into a useful choir.

The following music was sung during the term :-

Anthems:

The Lord hath been mindful—Wens ley. Thou Visitest the Earth—Greene. How lovely are the Messengers—Mendelssohn. Give us the wings of Faith—Bullock. Rejoice in the Lord alway—Purcell.

Services: Ireland in F. (Te Deum). Stanford in B flat (Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis). Darke in F (Sanctus, Benedictus qui Venit, Agnus). Merbecke (Communion Service).

Three events were outstanding in this term's programme. On 1 1 th October the Choir again led the singing at the Yorkshire Agricultural Society's Annual Harvest Thanksgiving in a packed York Minster. November 8th was Remembrance Sunday and after a special service in the morning we had an inspiring Evensong, when Ireland's "Greater love hath no man" was sung, as well as the epic 78th Psalm and Quilter's "Non Nobis Domine". Lastly, but certainly by no means least, came the Carol Service on 13th December. This was a very memorable one, as two difficult carols, "Born Today" and "A Spotless Rose", were attempted and "brought off" successfully; it is hoped to sing the latter with the Minster Choir in next Easter 12