Hundreds of copies sold of ‘Alexander’ CD

ALL things are bright and beautiful at St Columb’s Cathedral, where copies of the newly produced celebrating the poetry of Cecil Frances Alexander are selling in their hundreds.

Due to technical difficulties it was not possible to officially launch the CD at the service on September 11 to celebrate the centenary of the death of Bishop William Alexander, but since it’s availiblity over 300 of the CD had been bought.

The launch of the 17-track CD was just one aspect of the celebration of the life and contribution of Bishop Alexander that took place, as the Cathedral dedicated two sets of new robes for the choir, one in traditional crimson and the other in violet, which will be used for penitential celebrations like Advent and Lent.

Just recently the winners of the Philip Mehaffey Memorial Organ Scholarships were announced. They were Nicky Morton and Louis Fields, and they received their award from Bishop James Mehaffey and Mrs Thelma Mehaffey. The Memorial Award was set up a few years ago in the memory of the Bishop and Mrs Mehaffey’s son, Philip, who died at the young age of 36 and who was a fan of choral and organ music.

The Memorial Scholarchip will allow both Nicky and Louis, who are long-standing members of the choir, to study with Cathedral organist Ian Mills.

The Scholarship is also in keeping with the Cathedral’s new music trust, The Cecil Frances Alexander Music Trust.

“The decision by the Select Vestry to establish The Cecil Frances Alexander Music Trust, for the provision of choral bursaries, was also endorsed at the service and the Trust confirmed,” said the Dean of St Columb’s Cathedral, the Very Rev Dr William Morton, who added: “Heartiest congratulations are to be extended to Ian Mills and to the members of the Cathedral Choirs for such a fantastic production and on their superb singing the Bishop Alexander Centenary Serivce and all other services.

“We also thank Dr Martin Neary, Organist and Master of the Choristers at Westminster Abbey from 1988 to 1999, who was the musical editor and consultant for the CD and who conducted the Choirs at the service. We are also indebted to Philip Stopford, organist for the CD, who also played for the service,” the Dean said.

“The Trust is in parallel with the St Columb;s Cathedral Choir Association which exists for the procurement of the musical and choral tradition in the Cathedral,” the Dean said.

Copies of the CD, which has a play time of almost 70 minutes, are available from the Cathedral. Recorded in St Columb’s Cathedral by Priory Records, the sound recorder was Neil Collier and the producer Martin Neary.