Patronal Festival Report - Kendal Parish Church

HOLY TRINITY KENDAL PARISH CHURCH

Festival Evensong for the Feast of the Holy Trinity

Trinity Sunday, June 15th 2025 at 4.00pm

This magnificent occasion was hosted by Kendal Choristers and Kendal Parish Church Choir.

We were extremely lucky to be joined by Yorkshire Evening Post Brass from Leeds - 4 trumpets, 3 trombones, horn, tuba and timpani/percussion. Together with organ this was an incredible line-up! Choir and clergy, led by cross and lights, processed in to Arrival of the Queen of Sheba, played by the brass group. Then a single unaccompanied female voice sang the introit Praise to the Trinity by the 12th century mystic, Hildegard of Bingen. There were more fanfares as we all joined in the Old 100th in the familiar arrangement by Vaughan Williams, but with a new ending by Colin Mawby. The Responses were sung unaccompanied by the young voices of the Kendal Choristers. Psalm 150 resounded to  Stanford's well loved version and the Canticles were Walmisley in D minor. To grace the occasion the Choristers sang antiphons to the Magnificat. The Anthem was Parry's I was glad, written for a coronation like the Old 100th. With the band in full flow the top B flat at the end will remain long in the memory!

There were two more hymns, Holy, holy, holy and Love divine, and a thoughtful sermon by the Vicar, the Revd Canon Shanthi Thompson. The Choristers sang The Grace specially written for them. Choir and clergy processed out as the band played Cortege from Mlada by Rimsky-Korsakov. As the last chord ended we were aware of the bells in full pelt being rung by the Bellringers of Holy Trinity, Kendal Parish Church. The Mayor and Mayoress of Kendal attended the service. Well-wishers, church folk, tourists and visitors (about 40 in all), together with choir, choristers and brass enjoyed the wine reception after the service.

Our Patrons, Trinity College, sent their good wishes as they celebrated Trinity Sunday in Cambridge.

This was a Patronal Festival to be remembered. A big thank you to the Choral Evensong Trust who sponsored the occasion.

~ Jonathan Bielby