Calvary Choir Residency: Stepping into a Centuries Old Conversation

by Martha Boyd

Travelling as non-choristers with the Calvary Choir to Durham, we are now into the sixth day of the residency and are grateful for our time thus far. From 16 to 80 years old, the Calvary group is a delightful mix of the serious, the hilarious, the adventurous, and the cautious. The first evening meal found us singing the doxology surrounded by the beautiful voices of Calvary’s singers – a delicious taste of what was to follow during each night’s Evensong.

Entering the magnificent Cathedral for the first time, we heard the hourly prayer for peace, justice, and companionship on our personal journeys, accompanied by the Lord’s Prayer offered to all those touring the space and a reminder that the centuries-old Cathedral is still indeed a sacred place.

The introduction to Evensong provided in the bulletin was especially meaningful:

When you come to Evening Prayer here, it is as if you were dropping in on a conversation already in progress – a conversation between God and his people which began long before you were born and which will continue long after your death . . . . For a brief moment, you step into the continual stream of worship which is being offered today and which will be offered to the end of time. 

The words conversation and continual stand out in this preface. The conversations held with new and old friends on the bus, at breakfast, and on walks up the steep Cathedral hill are a highlight of this pilgrimage, as well as the praises and solicitations voiced to the Creator throughout worship.  Conversations with Calvary’s singers about the music being sung and their delight in certain anthems only enrich our experience as fellow travelers. A real treat is to witness fathers and sons, aunts and nieces, grandfathers and granddaughters, and spouses share the exhilarating experience of singing together in this World Heritage Cathedral.

Visiting ancient sites like Hadrian’s Wall and Lindisfarne Abbey, and walking along old cobblestone streets, reminds us that we are indeed part of an ongoing human story. The words of our ritual prayers may have been written more than four hundred years ago, but they are still relevant in our turbulent world. Each stop on this journey is more than a tour; it is an opportunity for reflection on our place in the cosmos and our relationship with the Holy. Related to continuity is the word “rhythm.” Just as the tide rolls in regularly to cut off Lindisfarne Island from the mainland, our last 5 days have been structured with morning breakfast, an adventure, rest (for some), the walk to the Cathedral along ancient cobblestone streets, the chiming of the 17^th century bells calling us to worship, Evensong, and then lovely gatherings for dinner.

Celebrating my birthday in the company of a choir was quite a thrill, especially when “Happy Birthday” was sung to me in a bus parking lot complete with 4-part harmony and high soprano “Aahhs”!  This serenade will be remembered for years to come, along with the ethereal Magnificats and Glorias sung at each service.