Dame Emma Kirkby to sing at Bach masterpiece in Harrogate

World renowned soprano Dame Emma Kirkby will be one of the soloists at a performance of J S Bach’s Mass in B minor in Harrogate next month.

The event will take place at at St Peter’s Church on October 8.

The combined choirs of St Peter’s Church and Vocalis chamber choir will be joined by the Harrogate Bach Players.

The other soloists include James Micklethwaite, Aoife O’Connell, Emma Stannard, and Andrew Greenan.

Dame Kirkby, who started as an amateur singer, was awarded the Queen’s Medal for Music in 2011.

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John Longstaff, director of music at St Peter’s, has organised the performance.

He said:

“it’s a wonderful and very difficult piece of music, extremely joyous and celebratory at times.

“I’ve loved it all my life but never had the opportunity to direct it and to perform it with the line-up of soloists and orchestral players who we have joining us, is a dream come true.”

Tickets cost £15. Call 07425161425 for more information.

Ripon Cathedral prepares to open for private prayer

Ripon Cathedral will open its doors to the public tomorrow for the first time since lockdown began.

Having been closed for more than 10 weeks under coronavirus legislation, the cathedral is among just a few places of worship in the Harrogate district which have decided to open for private prayer.

Government guidance has changed to allow places of worship to open for individuals. Nationally, leaders of different denominations have all issued advice, with each individual church to make its own decision over whether it is safe to open.

In the Harrogate district, Ripon Cathedral is one of those set to welcome people for prayer. Dean John Dobson said:

“We have been working towards a phased reopening. Our primary concern is to give people an opportunity to pray in this ancient church, where prayers have been offered for over 1300 years, while ensuring the safety of everyone – our regular worshippers, visitors, clergy, staff and volunteers.

“We look forward to welcoming back those who wish to light a candle, say a prayer or reflect on these unprecedented times, whilst at the same time doing our utmost to ensure the safety and well-being of all.”

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St Peter’s Church in the centre of Harrogate will be open daily, except Sundays, from Monday, June 22. The church supports homeless and vulnerable individuals and families routinely, and this service has not stopped while the church building was closed to visitors. The vicar, Rev Alan Garrow said:

“We want to be open. We have been in a curious situation because we have been active all the time, with 2,500 takeaway hot meals served since lockdown.

“We will only be open for prayer between 12pm and 2pm because the food service takes a chunk out of our day.”

While many of the district’s church leaders will keep their buildings closed until they feel it is safe to open, they are continuing to make good use of technology to deliver online services. The Nidd Valley Methodist Circuit in Harrogate has also opened a dial-a-thought phone line, which people can ring to hear a message each morning if they are unable to access the churches’ online morning prayer.