The Association is seeking a volunteer to undertake the new role of Events Secretary. A description of the role is attached. If interested, please contact the Chairman, David Littlejohn, at thechairman@rcoca.org.uk
News
News and information
Jeremy Lloyd’s Organ Recital from Rochester Cathedral
Programme
00:00 | JS Bach – Toccata in F BWV 540
Pierre Du Mage – Livre d’Orgue
10:11 | Tierce en taille
13:55 | Duo
16:16 | Grand Jeu from
20:14 | Howells – Rhapsody No 1
27:59 | Alain – Deuxième Fantaisie
Guilmant – Organ Sonata No 1 in D minor
35:31 | Introduction and Allegro
45:30 | Pastorale
51:50 | Final
Earliest known recording of a live Cathedral choir rediscovered
Lost for nearly a century, the world’s oldest cathedral choir recording has been found!
Unearthed by a music enthusiast, this stunning artifact captures the angelic voices of Rochester Cathedral in 1926.
Dive into history with this extraordinary find – read the full story in our archives.
Portrait of Bishop of Rochester, Dr John Thomas by Sir Joshua Reynolds
A rarely seen portrait by renowned artist Sir Joshua Reynolds is to be displayed at Rochester Cathedral to mark the Tricentenary of his birth. The portrait depicts former Bishop of Rochester, Dr John Thomas and was painted in 1781. It reunites the Bishop with his Cathedral for the first time since his death in 1793
Sir Joshua Reynolds is regarded as the ‘Father of British portraiture’ and was one of the greatest European painters of the 18th century. He was the founding president of the Royal Academy of Arts and was buried in St Paul’s Cathedral. Paintings by Reynolds can be found in many of the world’s leading galleries including the Tate Britain and National Gallery in London and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
16th July 2023 marks the 300th anniversary of the birth of Sir Joshua Reynolds. Events and exhibitions are also planned throughout the country including Plympton, where Reynolds was born and the Royal Academy of Arts in Piccadilly.
In 1768 he became the Dean of Westminster Abbey and from 1774 to 1793 he also served as the Bishop of Rochester. Dr Thomas was Chaplain to both King George II and King George III and was a member of the prestigious Order of the Bath.
The portrait going on display at Rochester Cathedral depicts the Bishop of Rochester, Dr John Thomas. It shows Thomas with Westminster Abbey in the background wearing his Order of the Bath regalia. Remarkably, parts of the regalia featured in the portrait are still in the possession of Rochester Cathedral and will be displayed.
Thomas and Reynolds knew each other socially and appeared to have been friends. Reynold’s diary shows a number of appointments for dinner beyond the five or six sittings required for the painting. Sir Joshua Reynolds was friends with many of the leading figures in Georgian Britain and both men were part of the Georgian Royal Court with official appointments by King George III.
With the exception of a short one week viewing in London in 2016 this is the first time the portrait has been publicly displayed since 1896 in Paris.
The painting itself has had an exciting life since being painted 243 years ago. One notable owner, French politician Jacques Leon Stern, escaped from the Nazis at the outbreak of World War Two taking the painting and his art collection with him. The portrait is currently privately owned. The owner approached Rochester Cathedral earlier this year and offered to loan the painting. He was keen to reunite the Bishop with his Cathedral and to mark the anniversary of one of Britain’s greatest artists.
Dean of Rochester, The Very Rev’d Dr Philip Hesketh AKC DL says;
“The story of how this painting came to be exhibited at the Cathedral is truly remarkable – definitely a case of divine providence. We are thrilled to have this stunning portrait on display and encourage everyone to come and see it while they can.“
The portrait will be on display at Rochester Cathedral from 16th July to January 2024. Admission to Rochester Cathedral is free. Visitors are encouraged to check the Cathedral website for opening times.
The Fenland Black Oak Table now on display at Rochester Cathedral
See the spectacular 13m table made from 5,000 year old fossilised wood until March 2024
An incredible 13m long table created from 5,000 year-old fossilised black oak has now arrived at Rochester Cathedral
In 2012, a 13.2m section of a giant black oak tree was found deep in the peat in a field in East Anglia. It had laid undisturbed for 5,000 years. It is believed the tree would have been an immense 55 metres tall when alive. For comparison, modern day oak trees are around 20 metres.
For 10 years a team of privately funded specialist crafts people worked to create this stunning table. The Fenland Black Oak Project have preserved this magnificent tree for perpetuity for future generations to admire and use. It was finished in 2022 and commemorates the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. It has only been on display once before at Ely Cathedral.
The table is not just something to look at – it was created for the Nation. Throughout the year a programme of events will take place using the table including dinners and family activities. We’d love to hear from you if you’ve got ideas for activities or events using the table.
It will be on display until March 2024. Admission is free during the day but charges may apply for evenings and special events.
Small Steps, Giant Leaps
A lunchtime recital of music under the moon
Some talented musicians of King’s Rochester gave a lunchtime recital of music ‘under the moon’ in Rochester Cathedral on the 25th February 2020.
The programme included arranged works by Bellini – Vaga Luna (voice), Fauré – Claire de Lune (violin), Giordani – Caro Mio Ben (voice), Saint-Saëns – Swan from Carnival of the Animals (‘cello), Debussy – Claire de Lune (flute), Brahms – Wiegenlied (voice) and Dvorak – Romantische Stücke No.1 (violin). The performers ranged in age and were excellent in all respects – it was pleasing to note that three were wearing the RCOCA lapel badge.
The Museum of the Moon, a touring artwork by the British artist Luke Jerram, was exhibited in the Nave of the Cathedral from the 12th February to the 4th March 2020.
It measures seven metres in diameter and is based upon 120 dpi high definition NASA satellite photography.
The moon measures seven meters in diameter. At an approximate scale of 1:500,000, each centimeter of the internally lit spherical sculpture represents 5km of the moon’s surface. The work was first exhibited in Kendal in 2016 and has since been shown in many locations within the United Kingdom and abroad. It appeared on Strictly Come Dancing at the Blackpool Tower Ballroom on the 18th November 2019.
Rochester Cathedral Celebrates Success in BBC Chorister of the Year
Congratulations to current Cathedral Deputy Head Chorister Edward Hyde and former Cathedral Head Chorister Rupert Walker on reaching the final of the BBC Radio 2 Young Chorister of the Year Competition.
This is a National Competition with Choristers being auditioned from the length and breadth of the Country. Only four boys are selected for the final and it is therefore a wonderful achievement that 50% of those were from King’s Rochester (the other two finalists were from Canterbury Cathedral).
The competition was won by Edward Hyde at the final held in Manchester Cathedral on October 24th 2016.
12th Edition of Choristers of Rochester Cathedral
I’m pleased to present (after some hard and diligent work by one of our old choristers – James Strike) the 12th edition of Choristers of Rochester Cathedral. This book contains the names and dates of all Choristers from 1679 to 2015 as well as some interesting information about cathedral music in Rochester over the years. The book has also been updated to include all Girl Choristers.
This professionally printed and published book can be purchased via me for £5 (plus postage if you’d like it posted).
Drop a line on our contact us page if you’d like one.
Tom Richley
Rochester Cathedral Old Choristers' Association 