Reflection :: July 4

St. Paul's Organist & Director of Music, Brad Hughley, shares the following reflection:

In two short weeks from now, forty singers from St. Paul’s Choir will embark on a pilgrimage to sing in residence at one of England’s most glorious cathedrals: Ely. The last time our choir made a pilgrimage overseas was in 2010, also to Ely. This particular trip is four years delayed because of the pandemic, and the worldwide scramble that ensued, once restrictions were lifted, placed our earliest available dates in 2024. The world is a changed place since 2020, and certainly since 2010. Only about half of the singers going in July were in the choir the last time we made a pilgrimage in 2016 to Washington, D.C., and none of our current choristers have ever traveled together as a choir. The time is ripe to make this journey.

Ely Cathedral, on the other hand, has seen relatively few changes since the 14th century. It weathered a multitude of storms in the face of world wars, dissolution of the monasteries during the English Reformation, religious iconoclasm during the Commonwealth period and structural damage throughout the centuries. Its most characteristic feature is the breathtaking octagon over the central crossing, considered one of the wonders of medieval architecture. When the marshy ground failed to support the foundation in the 1300s, the heavy central tower collapsed. When it was rebuilt the supports had to move further away from the church walls, and the ingenious eight vaulted arches saved the building from falling in on itself. It seems an apt metaphor for a post-pandemic world to be in this particular space that the choir occupied 14 years ago; the world of choral music nearly collapsed during lockdown and during the Covid pandemic, but through sheer will and creativity it endured and transformed the notion of community singing. I plan to gaze upon this mighty wonder of the octagon and give thanks to God for the ways in which St. Paul’s Choir kept its voice during the pandemic.

I’m also gratified that we have four of our Choir School alums traveling with us to Ely. These singers were ready to travel on the pilgrimage that got canceled in 2020, and have since gone through most of college. It is a longed-for trip that is finally coming to fruition.

Please keep the choir pilgrims in your prayers. I invite you to join us virtually for a service on the Ely Cathedral livestream; we will update you through eConnections which services will be broadcast. I also invite you to follow our pilgrimage in real time with us using the booklet provided in Burrows Commons (click here for a digital copy), with reflections on anthem texts we will sing at Ely written by our choir members, along with some music history notes giving context to the rich variety of music we will take to England. We look forward to this experience, and to coming back to our home parish with renewed spirits and full hearts.

Brad Hughley, Organist & Director of Music