Sung Evening Prayer (Vespers) will resume on Fridays at 5.30pm at the Pro-Cathedral with music sung by the Boys of the Palestrina Choir.
Evening Prayer is part of the Liturgy of the Hours, also known as the Divine Office in which the Church fulfills Jesus' command to "pray always" (Luke 18:1; see also 1 Thessalonians 5:17).
Evening Prayer gives thanks for the day just past and makes an evening sacrifice of praise to God.
Attendance at Evening Prayer would be a meaningful commitment during Lent.
All are most welcome at this short but beautiful service.

Andrew Parnell is an English composer, organist and harpsichordist (b.1954). Parnell currently resides in Ely, Cambrigdeshire where he works closely with Ely Cathedral. There, he became Assistant Director of the Octagon Singers, Director of Ely Choral Society and Wymondham Symphony Orchestra. His compositions vary from both sacred to secular and have been performed worldwide, that now includes the Pro-Cathedral! 

Peter Philips was an eminent English composer and organist in the late 16th century (1560 - 1628), right at what most scholars define as the period of change between the Renaissance and Baroque eras. However, in Philips’ case (and many others) it’s not as clear cut. Philips fled England as a young man because he was unable to maintain his Catholic beliefs comfortably. ‘Ave Verum Corpus’ and an accompanying motet ‘Ascendit Deus’ were published in Antwerp in 1612. The collection was defiantly dedicated to the ‘amplification of the Catholic, Apostolic, and Roman faith’. It’s this dedication to his faith which delineates the style of his compositions.

The Pro-Cathedral is absolutely delighted to announce the appointment of Aleksandr Nisse as Cathedral Organist. Aleksandr takes up his position in March 2022.
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Aleksandr Nisse is an organist and composer of Russian (St. Petersburg) and French (Paris) descent. Aleksandr spent his childhood years growing up in Hamburg and in the family ancestral home in Normandy, France. ​

'Cantique de Jean Racine' was composed by Gabriel Fauré for a competition when he was just nineteen-years old. The text, "Verbe égal au Très-Haut" ("Word, one with the Highest"), by Jean Racine is from a hymn, which is so elegantly set by Fauré. It features a lush choral homophony layered on top of a sparse organ accompaniment. It is very much a precursor to his 'Requiem'. It is no surprise that he won the competition in which it was entered!