Walk of Ages

 We can hardly believe it, but our daily steps have taken us as far as Glasgow and our 'local' cathedral - only 23 miles from home. While we may only have visited some of the others on our route, 'virtually' through this charity walk, most of the choir (and perhaps our readers) will have spent some time in this particular sacred space. Glasgow Cathedral stands near the heart of Scotland's largest city. It is the only medieval cathedral on the Scottish mainland to have survived the Protestant Reformation of 1560 virtually intact, so the building you see remains relatively unchanged. Around it there used to be a chanory, a precinct where the bishop (and later the archbishop) and clergy lived. It dates back to the later 12th century.  The building is a superb example of Gothic architecture with its high arches and beautiful stained glass. The history of the cathedral is linked with that of the city itself and is allegedly located where the patron, St Mungo, built his

As we reach Dunblane Cathedral , another choir member, Betty Colmer, has a very unique reason for her fond connection with the sacred space. Read on to find out... Dunblane Cathedral is a fascinating building that stands on a site which has been sacred for well over 1,000 years. Its beautiful Gothic exterior, conserved by a 19th century restoration, hides a past of neglect and renewal. The distinctive red sandstone tower sits at a strange angle to the later church, which was laid out in one go and survives mainly because it went on to serve as a parish church. The chancel was used for worship up until 1886, when it was deemed too small. The ruined nave was restored to the designs of Robert Rowand Anderson from 1889, with the weathered medieval stonework retained. Today, the church is an active place if worship. Inside are Pictish carved stones, rare 15th century choir stalls and handsome 19th century church furnishings. A strong musical tradition helps to inspire and unite people in th

Choir member, Mary Duncan, grew up in Edinburgh and has things to share about St Giles' Cathedral - our first stop in Scotland. Not a cathedral in the traditional sense of the word, St Giles is the High Kirk of Edinburgh . This medieval church dates back to the 12th century and boasts the crown steeple dated to 1495. John Knox , the famous theologian, leader of the country's reformation and founder of the Presbyterian Church of Scotland served as minister here and the church has hosted the Scottish Parliament. The origin of St Giles is lost in the midst of time. The oldest features are said to be four pillars, apparently dating back to 1124, but there may have been a church on or near that site since 854 AD. In 1243, the Bishop of St Andrews finally dedicated the church. It was only later that the church was rededicated to St Giles. The church was damaged by a fire in 1385, but was rebuilt and extended with Guild Chapels, Chantria and a chapel set up to hold a relic of St Gile

As we reach Durham, (our last stop south of the border), our Director of Music, Derek Clark, reflects on his alma mater. Situated high on an outcrop above the River Wear, Durham Cathedral has become a well-known landmark on railway journeys down the East Coast of Britain. Built originally to be a fitting resting place for the relics of St. Cuthbert, which were brought from Lindisfarne in 995AD, with its unmistakable twin towers flanking a higher central tower originally designed to support a spire as well, it remains one of the finest examples of Norman architecture in Britain. Building of the present structure dates from 1093 when work on the Choir area was begun by Bishop William of St. Carileph. Though most of this original Choir area was replaced in the 13th century, the roof of the south aisle of the Choir provides one of the earliest examples of ribbed vaulting in the country. But work on the cathedral was slow to gain momentum, and it was 1104 before the interment of St. Cuthbe

'I do not believe there is an atheist in the world who would bulldoze Mecca or Chartres, York Minster or Notre Dame...' - Richard Dawkins On reaching York Minster , choir member Helen Field, offers some interesting reading: I passed through York in late summer 2012 as a happy halfway point to meet up with friends travelling up from south. It was a warm, bright day and the stone from the Minster glowed in the sunshine. There was renovation work going on; part of a five-year project which started in 2011. We did not venture inside, sadly. As a result - until now - I had no knowledge of the strong musical tradition around the choir and organ, also of the story behind the unique window dedicated to the memory of women across the British Empire who had lost their lives during the First World War. According to the York Minster website there have been churches on or near the site where the Minster now stands for nearly 1400 years. The current magnificent cathedral building was constr

We've reached Lincoln and this post is written by one of our members, Stephanie Mitchell, who hails from the area. I grew up 20 miles from Lincoln. The position of the cathedral prominently atop the only hill for miles around, meant that it could be seen from a distance whichever way you approached the city. Magnificent! Apart from the beauty of its interior there is such a sense of peace and awe in the Cathedral's atmosphere. Leaving the cathedral, you are surrounded by history; the castle nearby, the Steep Hill with its cobbled streets, second hand book and antique shops, leading down to the centre of Lincoln. The cathedral was built on the site of an old church near Lincoln Castle and consecrated in 1092. Its construction was instigated by William the Conqueror, who acknowledged the loyalty of a Benedictine monk, Regiemus, by making him the Bishop of Dorchester. It was decided to transfer ecclesiastical power from Dorchester to Lincoln and build a cathedral. Over the next 1