Congratulations to our Choristers, who worked incredibly hard over the Christmas holiday. After a few days off after the end of term, they returned to School and the Cathedral on 22nd December to begin ‘Choir Term’. With rehearsals every day, trips to the cinema, lunches at School, many services, and festive fun in the Boarding House in the evenings, it was a very busy time for the Choristers (and for Mr Baurance and Mr Fitzpatrick!).
On Sunday the 22nd they sang a Eucharist in the morning, Evensong in the afternoon, and then rehearsed for the Christmas Eve service. The next day saw them going on a trip to see Star Wars at the cinema, rehearsing again, and then a Carol Service in the evening. The Crib Service took place an noon on Christmas Eve, after which the Choristers rehearsed for the Service of Lessons and Carols (‘the Grandisson’). The Grandisson – the big-ticket service here at Exeter – took place that evening in a packed Cathedral. The next day the boarding Choristers learned that Father Christmas had visited the Boarding House and, after opening their stockings, they went – as is traditional – to wake up the Dean, the Director of Music, and the Headmaster with carols under their windows (they were showered with chocolates and candy canes as their traditional reward!). They sang Eucharist in the morning, followed by Mattins, and then enjoyed some drinks and canapés in the Chapter House. After bidding farewell to the Fitzpatricks, Choristers and their families enjoyed Christmas lunch together in the School before returning to the Cathedral for Evensong with carols from the Minstrels’ Gallery.
We are very proud of the enormous contributions of our Choristers and their families over the Christmas break: they certainly earned their post-Christmas rest!
