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.

Read more:

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New series of monthly organ recitals to be held in Harrogate

A new series of monthly organ recitals will begin in Harrogate tomorrow.

The series will see some of the country’s finest organists give hour-long recitals on the new digital organ at St Wilfrid’s Church on Duchy Road.

The organ console will be situated in the middle of the nave, which should enhance the audience experience.

Anthony Gray, director of music at St Wilfrid’s, said:

“We are beginning the fundraising process to restore our pipe organ, which will cost over £500,000.

“This series should be an excellent showcase of the capability of digital organs, and in our relatively cavernous acoustic, it sounds very exciting and rich.”

Anthony Gray

Mr Gray, who is among the organists due to play in the series in the Grade 1 listed building, added he was trying to offer something different to organ recitals held in places like Bradford, Leeds and Ripon by giving each recital a short title, hinting at what is on the programme.

He added:

“We are also offering some slightly different recital experience with a jazz recital next month, a showcase of the entire music department in the summer, and some interesting celebrations of specific composers too.”

John Longstaff, from St Peter’s Church in Harrogate will begin the series this week. Alexander Berry, from Bradford Cathedral and David Pipe, from Newcastle Cathedral, are among the names that will follow.

John Longstaff

The concerts will take place on, or as close to as possible, the first Wednesday evening of each month, beginning at 7:30pm. Admission is £6; under-18s are free,

The full programme is here.