The Ripon Cathedral Choir, led by director of music Dr Ronny Krippner, was in fine voice at yesterday evening’s candlelit Advent service.

As Christmas approaches, the spectacular event including readings, prayers and hymns, attracted a congregation of hundreds to the ancient building, founded by Wilfrid in 672 AD.

A central feature of the evening was the Advent procession (pictured below) which saw the cathedral’s choristers walk in two groups down the south and north aisles before meeting as one at the cathedral entrance.

They and the congregation sang together the processional hymn O come, O come Emmanuel!

Choristers walked in procession down the south and north aisles of the cathedral

The congregation was welcomed by the Dean of Ripon the Very Revd. John Dobson, who said:

“Let us in this holy season reflect on the coming of Christ who brings light to the world.

“Let us leave behind the darkness of sin, walk in the light that shines on our path, and renew within ourselves the hope of glory to which he beckons us.”

The blessing was given by the Bishop of Ripon, the Rt. Revd. Dr Helen-Ann Hartley (pictured above with Dean John)

Ripon began its 1,350th anniversary celebrations in spectacular style yesterday, with a son et lumiere in the cathedral among the highlights.

Throughout the day, the work of Wilfrid, who founded the church in AD 672, was celebrated in words, artworks and music.

From the the focus on Ripon’s ancient roots, the night-time spotlight switched to Market Square, where four tribute acts performed in a free concert arranged by the city council. Rain that arrived in early evening, deterred some people from attending.

A Beyonce tribute, was one of four acts to perform on Market Square, with Craig David, Boy George and Freddie Mercury tributes also taking to the stage

Events and activities at the cathedral earlier in the day, included the first glimpse, for many visitors, of Chrissie Freeth’s series of 13 tapestries in her Beyond Words exhibition.

The  intricate woven works, depicting pre-Renaissance scenes, have previously been on display at the Royal Academy, Salts Mill and in Sweden, Latvia and Finland.

The exhibition will remain in Ripon until May 25.

The medieval world in woven form, can be seen in Chrissie Freeth tapestries

Alongside a guided tour, featuring a talk on the building’s hidden history, there was an opportunity to meet director of music, Dr Ronny Krippner, to learn about the organ that is central to the cathedral’s Sung Eucharist and other services.

After playing his special arrangement of the hymn Thine Be the Glory, he told the audience:

“The organ is an orchestra in itself, able to produce the sounds of many different instruments.

“It adds to the cathedral’s splendour, air of mystery and wonderment, with its booming sound able to be increased by pulling out the stops.”

Music master and apprentice – Dr Krippner, gave children, including five-year-old Rafael, a lesson in how to play the organ

For Rafael, a pupil at Cathedral School, it was a day to remember, as Dr Krippner, instructed him on how to hold a note.

The miracles of St Wilfrid

By the evening, the son et lumiere  created to provide a visual representation of the seven miraculous events in St Wilfrid’s life, flooded the cathedral with coloured light.

Among those miracles,  It is said that he was born in a house that was on fire, but survived without being injured.

It is also said that on the first anniversary of Wilfrid’s death, the moon and stars shone so bright that a lunar rainbow appeared over Ripon.

Hornblower Patricio Maglio, setting the watch on Market Square

The hornblower tradition

While the cathedral, is a dominant reminder of the city’s patron saint, another famous person, Alfred the Great, who has shaped Ripon’s rich history, is celebrated nightly on Market Square.

Last night it was the turn of Patricio Maglio,  from the team of four hornblowers, who delivered the blasts to the past, dating back to AD 886, when King Alfred awarded a ceremonial horn, in recognition of the way in which Ripon repelled a Viking incursion.

The unbroken tradition of setting the city’s watch was complete by the time the clock on the nearby cathedral clock struck nine.

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