Hereford choristers sing for papal mass
THE choir of Hereford Cathedral sang for a papal mass on the Feast of St Peter and St Paul last week. In front of 125,000 in St Peter’s Square, the choir sang “View me, Lord” by Richard Lloyd, a former organist of Hereford Cathedral, and a motet by William Byrd, Cibavit eos. After the service, the Dean of Hereford, the Very Revd Michael Tavinor, and the Bishop of Hereford, the Rt Revd Richard Frith, had a private meeting with Pope Francis. Bishop Frith said: “It was a wonderful occasion. It was a day I shall remember for ever. It was such a joy to hear our Hereford choir leading the singing. We felt very proud of them. That was especially wonderful.” The mass was broadcast to millions on Vatican TV. The Sistine Chapel Choir, with whom they sang parts of the service, has been invited back to Hereford.
Taxi drivers support Safe Car Wash app
DRIVERS of black cabs in London have been urged to support the Clewer Initative’s Safe Car Wash app (News, 4 June), which helps users to spot signs of forced-labour exploitation. The Licensed Taxi Drivers Association (LTDA), which represents 10,000 people in London, has supported the campaign. The general secretary of LTDA, Steve McNamara, said on Tuesday: “We want London to be a safe place to live, work, and travel, free from crimes like modern slavery in hand car washes.” The app was launched in June.
Lambeth Palace interfaith adviser named
THE Revd Dr Richard Sudworth has been appointed the new secretary for inter-religious affairs to the Archbishop of Canterbury, and national inter-religious affairs adviser for the Church of England. He succeeds Canon Mark Poulson, who has held the position since 2014. Dr Sudworth said: “More than ever, a Christian witness is needed that can foster the common good across religious traditions as well as prayerfully sharing the claims of our faith.” Archbishop Welby said that he was looking forward to his “wisdom and support” at Lambeth Palace.
Kettering verger dies in bus crash
BRIAN CHAPMAN, a verger at St Peter and St Paul, Kettering, died after a lorry and the double-decker bus on which he was a passenger collided on the A47 in Cambridgeshire last week. The Rector of St Peter and St Paul, the Revd David Walsh, said in a Facebook post that it would be hard to imagine the church without him. The bus driver, Michael Elcombe, was also killed. Seventeen people were also injured, six of them seriously.
Clitheroe Reader to co-ordinate training project
THE Central Readers’ Council has appointed Ruth Haldane, a Reader and member of the leadership team of St James’s, Clitheroe, to the new possition of national Reader Training Project Manager. The Bishop of Leicester, the Rt Revd Martyn Snow, who chairs the Council, said that he was “delighted” by the appointment. “This is an exciting time for Readers. Not only are Readers increasingly being called on to lead churches: they are also rediscovering their charism as teachers.” Mrs Haldane will help to co-ordinate the development of new training resources. Bishop Snow has said that training must be more flexible to attract younger candidates (News, 4 May).