Gregorian Chant in Edinburgh over Easter

The Office of Tenebræ will be chanted by the St Margaret Schola on the mornings of Maundy Thursday (5 April), Good Friday (6 April) and Holy Saturday (7 April). Exact location and timeto be confirmed. Tenebræ consists of the Offices of Matins (Vigils) and Lauds. Office booklets will be available that contain all the texts in both Latin and English.

Other Holy Week and Easter celebrations (in the Extraordinary Form of the Mass all in Latin with Gregorian Chant) will take place in St Andrew's Church, 77 Ravelston Road, Edinburgh EH4 3DS; the celebrant is Fr John Emerson FSSP.

• Thursday 5 April, 7.30pm, Mass of the Last Supper
• Friday 6 April, 3.00pm, Good Friday Liturgy and Veneration of the Cross
• Saturday 7 April, 8.00pm, Paschal Vigil
• Sunday 8 April, 11.30am, Solemn Mass of Easter Day

For more information, see the following links:

• www.fssp.org.uk
• edinburghschola.blogspot.com

Gregorian Chant for Beginners in Orkney

Mr Ben Whitworth of the Orkney Schola will be teaching an evening class, 'Gregorian Chant for Beginners', starting on Wednesday 28 September, and running until Wednesday 23 November (with a break on 9 November) in Orkney. The course will be held at the King Street Halls, Kirkwall, under the auspices of the Council's Community Learning Programme.

Full details will be available soon, but please mark your diary now! More information will be found on the Schola's blog at orkneychant.blogspot.com.

upcoming events - November

Saturday 13 November
Vespers of the Dead (for Remembrance Sunday)
4.30pm, St Mary's Metropolitan Cathedral, Picardy Place, Edinburgh

Tuesday 16 November

Solemn Sung Mass for the Feast of St Margaret [OF]

7.30pm, St Mary's Metropolitan Cathedral, Picardy Place, Edinburgh

Sunday 28 November (last Sunday of the month)
Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament
after 11.30am Mass (Extraordinary Form),
St Andrew's Church, Belford Road, Ravelston, Edinburgh (more)

~~*~~

Please comment with details of further events.

upcoming events - October

Saturday 1 October
Holy Mass
11.00am, ruins of Cambuskenneth Abbey, near Stirling

Saturday 9, Sunday 10 and Monday 11 October
Creator of Heaven and Earth - talk by the Kolbe Institute

• 2pm, Saturday 9 October, Holy Ghost Fathers, 117 Newarthill Road, Carfin
  
• 3pm, Sunday 10 October, Immaculate Heart of Mary, Balornock (Glasgow)
  
• 6.30pm, Monday 11 October, St Andrew's Church, Belford Road, Edinburgh

Saturday 30 October
First Vespers for the Feast of Christ the King
4.30pm, St Mary's Metropolitan Cathedral, Picardy Place, Edinburgh

Sunday 31 October (last Sunday of the month)
Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament
after 11.30am Mass (Extraordinary Form),
St Andrew's Church, Belford Road, Ravelston, Edinburgh (more)

~~*~~

Please comment with details of further events.

St Margaret's Schola takes a summer break

After singing every week for the Edinburgh International Festival Fringe, the St Margaret Schola is now taking a well-earned break from singing and will be back in the late Autumn. The Schola's monthly Vespers have moved to Saturday evenings at 4:30pm. There will be no weekly practices until further notice.

The calendar of events has been updated for October and November and can be viewed here.

Please contact the schola via email at edinburghschola at gmail.com, or telephone (see link) if you would like to sing with us, to arrange for us to sing at a liturgical event, or to find out about more planned events for Autumn/Winter.

One day retreat with Gregorian chant

Haughland House Retreat Centre Shapinsay
charity no. SC036313

Desert Wisdom
“Every single day make a fresh beginning”

Saturday August 28 10.30-4.30
(9.45 ferry from Kirkwall 4.45 back)

Ben Whitworth will share his experiences of Monastic traditions, his knowledge of the Desert fathers and he will also teach us some Gregorian Chants.

An informative, relaxing and Creative retreat.
£15 plus shared lunch
To Book a place Contact Lesley on 711750 or
Email lesleymckeown at hotmail dot com

upcoming events - August

Saturday 7 August
Latin Choral Vespers
4.00pm, St Mary's Metropolitan Cathedral, Picardy Place, Edinburgh

Sunday 8 August
Compline by Candelight
9.00pm, St Mary's Metropolitan Cathedral, Picardy Place, Edinburgh

Monday 10 August
Requiem Mass [OF]
7.00pm, St Mary's Metropolitan Cathedral, Picardy Place, Edinburgh
Centenary of the birth of the late Cardinal Gordon Joseph Gray, our previous Archbishop

Saturday 14 August
Solemn Pontifical Vespers
4.00pm, St Mary's Metropolitan Cathedral, Picardy Place, Edinburgh

Sunday 15 August
Compline by Candelight
9.00pm, St Mary's Metropolitan Cathedral, Picardy Place, Edinburgh

Friday 20 August
The Promise of the Promised Land
(talk by Elias Chacour, Archbishop of Galilee)
7.30pm, St Mary's Metropolitan Cathedral, Picardy Place, Edinburgh (info)

Saturday 21 August
Latin Choral Vespers
4.00pm, St Mary's Metropolitan Cathedral, Picardy Place, Edinburgh

Sunday 22 August
Compline by Candelight
9.00pm, St Mary's Metropolitan Cathedral, Picardy Place, Edinburgh

Saturday 28 August
Day Retreat at Haughland House, Shapinsay (Orkney)
for more information contact Ben Whitworth, the Orkney Schola

Sunday 29 August (last Sunday of the month)
Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament
after 11.30am Mass (Extraordinary Form),
St Andrew's Church, Belford Road, Ravelston, Edinburgh (more)

Sunday 29 August
Compline by Candelight
9.00pm, St Mary's Metropolitan Cathedral, Picardy Place, Edinburgh

~~*~~

Please comment with details of further events.

upcoming events - July

Sunday 25 July (last Sunday of the month)
Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament
after 11.30am Mass (Extraordinary Form),
St Andrew's Church, Belford Road, Ravelston, Edinburgh (more)

Monday 26 July
Solemn Vespers and Benediction for Sts Joachim and Anne
6.45pm, St Mary's Metropolitan Cathedral, Picardy Place, Edinburgh

~~*~~

Please comment with details of further events.

upcoming events - June

Thursday 3 June
Missa Cantata for Corpus Christi
7pm, Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, Balornock, Glasgow (info)
6.15pm, St Andrew's Church, Belford Road, Ravelston, Edinburgh (info)

Saturday 5 June
First Solemn High Mass of Fr Simon Harkins FSSP
1pm, St Mary's Metropolitan Cathedral, Picardy Place, Edinburgh

His Eminence Keith Patrick Cardinal O'Brien will be in attendance and will preach the homily. This is the first time in the UK and possibly in the world that a Cardinal Primate will attend a First Mass in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite in his own diocesan cathedral and preach for the occasion.

Saturday 5 June
Day Walk Of Historical, Literary, Ecclesiastical & Natural Interest
9.30am, Newtown St Boswells, Scottish Borders (info)
walk in aid of "Keeping the Door Open" - Edinburgh University Catholic Chaplaincy


Thursday 24 June
Solemn Vespers and Benediction for the Nativity of St John the Baptist
6.45pm, St Mary's Metropolitan Cathedral, Picardy Place, Edinburgh

Sunday 27 June (last Sunday of the month)
Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament
after 11.30am Mass (Extraordinary Form),
St Andrew's Church, Belford Road, Ravelston, Edinburgh (more)

~~*~~

Please comment with details of further events.

upcoming events - May

Sunday 2 May 2010
Exposition and Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament
after 10.00am Mass, St Margaret's RC Church, Loch Road, South Queensferry
followed by Benediction at 3.00pm

Saturday 8 May 2010
Sung High Mass [EF]
11.00am, former Carmelite Priory of St Mary, South Queensferry
(currently Scottish Episcopal Church)

part of this Church dates back to 1441; it is but a stone's throw from the former Queen's Crossing, used by St Margaret, Queen of Scots.

Thursday 13 May
Missa Cantata for the Ascension
6.15pm, St Andrew's Church, Belford Road, Ravelston, Edinburgh (more)

Sunday 23 May 2010
Exposition and Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament
after 10.00am Mass, St Margaret's RC Church, Loch Road, South Queensferry
followed by Benediction at 3.00pm

Sunday 30 May (last Sunday of the month)
Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament
after 11.30am Mass (Extraordinary Form),
St Andrew's Church, Belford Road, Ravelston, Edinburgh (more)

Sunday 30 May 2010
Exposition and Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament
after 10.00am Mass, St Margaret's RC Church, Loch Road, South Queensferry
followed by Benediction at 3.00pm

~~*~~

Please comment with details of further events.

Annunciation in Edinburgh

ANNUNCIATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

Thursday 25 March 2010

Vespers and Latin Mass
in the Extraordinary Form

Solemn Vespers and Benediction
5.00pm, St Mary's RC Cathedral, Picardy Place, Edinburgh
Rev. Fr. Bruno Clifton OP, Celebrant
(Gregorian Chant sung by Schola Sanctae Margaritae, Regina Scotorum)

Low Mass
6.15pm, FSSP Oratory, 6 Belford Park, Edinburgh
Rev. Fr. John Emerson FSSP, Celebrant

Note: Tenebrae (Solemn Morning Prayer) will also be sung daily in St Mary's RC Cathedral, Picardy Place, Edinburgh, at 10.00am on the mornings of the Thursday 1st, Friday 2nd, and Saturday 3rd April. For more information see: edinburghschola.blogspot.com.

For more information on the Priestly Fraternity of St Peter (FSSP) in the UK, visit www.fssp.org.uk

reminder: A Passiontide Reflection

REMINDER: TOMORROW!

Chant Day @ St Mary's
A Passiontide Reflection

Talks, readings and chants led by Fr. Paul Francis Spencer C.P. and the cantors of the St. Margaret Schola, culminating with First Vespers of Passion Sunday in St Mary's Metropolitan Cathedral, Edinburgh.

All welcome: tuition in Gregorian Chant will be available (don't be put off: no experience necessary!).

Saturday 20 March 2010, 10:00am - 4:30pm.
St Mary's Cathedral Parish Centre (behind Café Camino),
Little King Street, Edinburgh (just by John Lewis at the foot of Leith Street)

Cost: £10.00 to cover lunch, refreshments and music.

Please call 07736061080 if attending.

upcoming events - March

Sunday 7 March 2010
Adoration & Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
11.00am, St Margaret's RC Church, Loch Rd, South Queensferry,
followed by Benediction at 3.00pm

Sunday 7 March 2010
St John Ogilvie Prayer Vigil
3pm, Glasgow Cross (Tolbooth); for more info see here

Sunday 7 March 2010
Sung Latin Vespers
7.15pm, St Margaret's Chapel, Canmore, St Andrews (info)

Saturday 13 March 2010
Una Voce Scotland Lenten Day of Recollection
10.00am - 4.00pm, Nazareth House, Cardonald (Glasgow) (info)

Sunday 14 March 2010
Adoration & Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
11.00am, St Margaret's RC Church, Loch Rd, South Queensferry,
followed by Benediction at 3.00pm

Monday 15 March 2010
Screening of 'Turning the Tide', documentary about euthanasia (info)
7.00 - 9.00 pm, Café Via, Turnbull Hall, Glasgow University Catholic Chaplaincy

Saturday 20 March 2010
A Passiontide Meditation

Talks, readings and chants, culminating in

First Vespers of Passion Sunday
9.30am - 4.30pm, St Mary's Parish Centre /
Café Camino, Broughton Street, Edinburgh

E-mail post@edinburghschola.org.uk for further details

Sunday 21 March 2010
Adoration & Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
11.00am, St Margaret's RC Church, Loch Rd, South Queensferry,
followed by Benediction at 3.00pm

Thursday 25 March 2010
(Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary)
Solemn Vespers and Benediction
5.00pm, St Mary's RC Cathedral, Broughton Street, Edinburgh (info)
please note change of time

Thursday 25 March 2010
Low Mass for the Annunciation
6.15pm, FSSP Oratory, 6 Belford Park, Edinburgh

Friday 26 March 2010
Pro-Life Vigil (all-night Exposition)
6.00pm - 9.30am, St Lucy's, 9 Pine Crescent, Abronhill, Cumbernauld (info)

Sunday 28 March 2010
Lenten Penitential Service
2.30pm, St Margaret's RC Church, Loch Rd, South Queensferry,
with Confessions, preceded by Exposition and Benediction, 11.00am - 1.45pm

~~*~~

Please comment with details of further events.

Launch of the Gregorian Chant Network

On Saturday 30th January, a meeting was held at the London Oratory to launch a new grouping, the Gregorian Chant Network, of scholas and interested parties to coordinate the promotion of Gregorian Chant in the Catholic liturgy.

The meeting was opened and the concept of the GCN introduced by Joseph Shaw, Chairman of the Latin Mass Society. After lunch Colin Mawby, the distinguished composer and former Director of Music at Westminster Cathedral, gave the keynote address on the importance of Chant, followed by a practical session on methods of conducting the Chant.

The meeting was attended by members of the Latin Mass Society, Una Voce Scotland, the Association for Latin Liturgy, the Schola Gregoriana of Cambridge, a number of chant teachers and experts, and the Directors of a score of Gregorian Chant scholas from all over the country, 36 people in all. The meeting concluded with First Vespers of Septagesima Sunday in the Little Oratory, led by Fr Alexander.

For more information, see www.gregorianchantnetwork.org

upcoming events - February

Tuesday 2 February 2010
Missa Cantata for Candlemas (Feast of the Purification)
6.15pm, FSSP Oratory, 6 Belford Park, Edinburgh

Thursdays, 4, 11, 18 & 25 February 2010
Gregorian Chant (intermediate)
9.45 - 11.45am, Appies Tea Rooms, Sandvick, Orkney Islands

Monday 8 February 2010
Traditional Latin Mass
7pm, Sacred Heart Church, 50 Old Dalmarnock Road, Bridgeton, Glasgow
followed by tea and talk for half an hour - all welcome

Tuesday 9 February 2010
Debate on legalising assisted suicide
6.00 - 7.30pm, Charles Wilson Building, University of Glasgow, G12 8QQ

Thursday 11 February 2010
(Apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary)
Solemn Vespers and Benediction
6.45pm, St Mary's RC Cathedral, Broughton Street, Edinburgh (info)

Wednesday 17 February 2010
Masses for Ash Wednesday
6.15pm, St Andrew's Church, Belford Road, Ravelston, Edinburgh (more)
6pm, Sacred Heart Church, 50 Old Dalmarnock Road, Bridgeton, Glasgow

Sunday 28 February (last Sunday of the month)
Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament
after 11.30am Mass (Extraordinary Form),
St Andrew's Church, Belford Road, Ravelston, Edinburgh (more)

Sunday 28 February
Adoration & Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
11.00am, St Margaret's RC Church, Loch Rd, South Queensferry,
followed by Benediction at 3.00pm

~~*~~

Please comment with details of further events.

upcoming events - January

Friday 1 January 2010
Mass for New Year's Day [EF]
6.00pm, FSSP Oratory, 6 Belford Park, Edinburgh

Wednesday 6 January 2010
Mass for the Epiphany [EF]
6.15pm, St Andrew's Church, Belford Road, Ravelston, Edinburgh (more)

Monday 18 January 2010
Missa Cantata (Votive Mass for Unity of the Church),
followed by talk about Chartres Pilgrimage
7.00pm, Glasgow University Catholic Chaplaincy, Turnbull Hall,
13-15 Southpark Terrace, Glasgow G12 8LG

Thursdays, 21 & 28 January 2010
Gregorian Chant (intermediate)
9.45 - 11.45am, Appies Tea Rooms, Sandvick, Orkney Islands

Thursday 21 January 2010
Solemn Vespers and Benediction for the feast of St Agnes
6.45pm, St Mary's RC Cathedral, Broughton Street, Edinburgh (info)

Friday 29 January 2010
Mary's Meals Launch Night (fb)
7.30 - 9.00pm, Balcony Room, Teviot House, University of Edinburgh (Bristo Square)

Sunday 31 January (last Sunday of the month)
Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament
after 11.30am Mass (Extraordinary Form),
St Andrew's Church, Belford Road, Ravelston, Edinburgh (more)

Sunday 31 January
Talk: Paris to Chartres Pilgrimage
8.15pm, Edinburgh University Catholic Chaplaincy
Blackfriars, 24 George Square, Edinburgh (facebook)

~~*~~

Please comment with details of further events.

Another Successful Gregorian Chant Course

The historic church of St Magnus, Birsay (Orkney), provided a fitting venue for Gregorian chant on Monday 14 December. The ancient evening service of Compline was sung by students on a beginners’ Gregorian Chant course. The course, led by Harray resident Ben Whitworth, ran at Appies Tea Rooms, Sandwick, during November and December. It followed a successful beginners’ course, also at Appies, last winter.

Ben said: ‘The students on the course were really enthusiastic and the quality of the singing at Birsay Kirk indicates just how much work they put in. Gregorian Chant is rightly famous for its serenity, but it requires a lot from the singers: accuracy, stamina, good pronunciation of Latin – and all this unaccompanied. I’m proud of how much this class has achieved.’

After the first beginners’ course, a number of students wished to continue meeting to learn new music. The group – known as the Orkney Schola – now rehearses regularly, and has sung at the Catholic parish church of Our Lady and St Joseph in Kirkwall. An intermediate course will run at Appies in the New Year, beginning on Thursday 21 January 2010. To book, please call Pam Farmer on 841562. The course will suit anyone who has completed one of the beginners’ courses at Appies, or who has some experience of choral singing.
Further details:

For additional information, contact: Ben Whitworth, Cribbaquoy, Harray, Orkney KW17 2LQ, tel. (01856) 771677, email: ben at whitworth.net, blog: orkneychant.blogspot.com

(image: Singers at the Gregorian Chant service of Compline in St Magnus’ church, Birsay; Angie Whitworth)

Historic homecoming for the Knights of Malta

by Gerald Warner

West Lothian witnessed an historic event as the Knights of Malta returned after 450 years to Torphichen Preceptory, their mediaeval headquarters in Scotland lost at the Reformation, to celebrate the Latin Mass.

The occasion was presided over by Fra' Fredrik Crichton-Stuart, Grand Prior of England of the Order of Malta, accompanied by knights and dames of the order (above).

The traditional Mass was arranged by Una Voce Scotland, the Scottish branch of the International Latin Mass Federation. Una Voce has been conducting Masses in the extraordinary form in different historic venues in Scotland and at the end of October they celebrated an Old Rite Mass at Cambuskenneth Abbey [Stirling].

The celebrant was Mgr Hugh Boyle; Fr John Emerson, of the Priestly Fraternity of St Peter, was seated in the sanctuary beside the Grand Prior. The splendid vestment worn by Mgr Boyle, which attracted much attention, were 19th-century French cloth of gold.

Fred Stone of Una Voce explained that when they were taken to the Burrell Collection for expert assessment the museum was anxious to acquire them, but they are still very much in service and far from becoming museum.

Torphichen Preceptory near Bathgate in West Lothian was granted to the Knights Hospitaller by King David I in the 1140s, but there had been a church there from very ancient times, allegedly established by St Ninian around 400AD and said to have been visited by King Arthur a century later.

Torphichen was the Scottish Commandery of the Knights of Hospitaller of St John (known from 1530 as the Knights of Malta, after they took possession of that island.) Before and after the Battle of Falkirk in 1298, it was visited respectively by William Wallace and Edward I Longshanks, the Hammer of the Scots.

After the Reformation the building was partly demolished; only the foundations of the knight's cloister remain. The nave of the cross-shaped church became the parish kirk, but that too was demolished in 1756 and replaced by the present parish church.

Of the original commandery building all that remains is the central tower and transepts of the mediaeval church. These portions only surive because they were for a time used as a courthouse. The tower was at one point ruinous, but was re-roofed in 1947.

The building, now in the care of Historic Scotland, is still impressive. The vaulted ceiling is fine example of mediaeval craftmanship and, as the Una Schola schola discovered, provides excellent acoustic for Gregorian plainsong. They sang the Mass and then Te Deum, concluding with the Salve Regina.

In his homily Mgr Boyle invoked the historic nature of the occasion and the ancient link that Torphichen represented with the Order of Malta and Scottish Catholicism. At the end of Mass, Fra' Freddy Crichton-Stuart led the knights in reciting the prayer of the Order of Malta.

(photo © Martin Gardner;
reproduced from The Scottish Catholic Observer, 27.11.09)

Coming Up Next Week (November, Week 4)

Thursdays, 5, 12, 19, & 26 November 2009

Gregorian Chant for Beginners
9.45 - 11.45am, Appies Tea Rooms, Sandvick, Orkney Islands

Tuesday 24 November 2009
Parish Requiem Mass (Sung) [OF]
7.00opm, Immaculate Heart of Mary, Balornock (Glasgow)

Wednesday 25 November 2009
Queensferry Quench: "Danger!"
Are all religions essentially fundamentalist?
talk with Dan Petersen (more info)
7.15pm onwards, Orocco Pier, 17 High Street, South Queensferry

Saturday 28 November
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
after 10.00am Mass, St Andrew's Church, Belford Road, Ravelston, Edinburgh, AND
after 10.00am Mass, St Kentigern's, 26 Parkgrove Avenue, Edinburgh EH4 7QR

Sunday 29 November 2009 (Advent Sunday)
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
12.00 noon, St Margaret's RC Church, Loch Rd, South Queensferry,
followed by Rosary and Benediction at 3.00pm

Sunday 29 November 2009
Prayer for the Conversion of Scotland
Rosary vigil to pray for Scotland's leaders, and the conversion of Scotland
2.00pm, outside Scottish Parliament, Abbey Strand (Holyrood), Edinburgh

Sunday 29 November 2009
Unveiling of the Nativity Scene and Carol Service
4.00pm, St Andrew's Square Gardens (east of George Street), Edinburgh

Monday 30 November 2009
Traditional Latin Mass [EF]
7.00pm, Sacred Heart, Old Dalmarnock Road, Bridgeton (Glasgow)

Monday 30 November 2009
Traditional Latin Mass (Missa Cantata) [EF]
6.15pm, St Andrew's Church, Belford Road, Ravelston, Edinburgh

Monday 30 November 2009
Solemn Vespers and Benediction for the feast of St Andrew, Apostle
6.45pm, St Mary's RC Cathedral, Broughton Street, Edinburgh

~~*~~

Please comment with details of further events.

Note: November has seen an unprecedented number of traditional events, hence splitting the 'Upcoming Events' post into four. Please let us know if you like this new format!

Coming Up Next Week (November, Week 3)

Thursdays, 5, 12, 19, & 26 November 2009

Gregorian Chant for Beginners
9.45 - 11.45am, Appies Tea Rooms, Sandvick, Orkney Islands

Monday 16 November 2009
Solemn Vespers and Benediction for the feast of
St Margaret, Queen of Scots
6.45pm, St Mary's RC Cathedral, Broughton Street, Edinburgh

Monday 16 November 2009
Traditional Latin Mass [EF]
7.00pm, Sacred Heart, Old Dalmarnock Road, Bridgeton (Glasgow)

Saturday 21 November
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
after 10.00am Mass, St John's, 37 St Ninian's Road, Corstorphine EH12 8AL

~~*~~

Please comment with details of further events.

Note: November has seen an unprecedented number of traditional events, hence splitting the 'Upcoming Events' post into four. Please let us know if you like this new format!