Cathedral Update: Organ Renewal, Choir Tour and Public Worship

Dear Cathedral congregation,

We are writing to share an exciting and important update about cathedral liturgy and music during the summer months.

Wolff Organ Renewal and Repair
Following a successful fundraising effort, we are ready to undertake timely repair and renewal of the Wolff organ. The cleaning and regulating of the organ's 4,000 pipes and refurbishment of the organ's various mechanical and electrical components will be carried out by Montreal-based organ builders Juget-Sinclair. The celebrated firm has played a key role in restoring several other Wolff instruments.

After two decades of daily use, our organ's delicate mechanism — the complex system of moving "trackers" that transmit impulses from the organist at the console to the instrument's pipework — will be thoroughly renewed. In addition, its four keyboards will be rebalanced and repaired, and pipes that have fallen silent will be returned to full resonant voice. Work will begin in earnest in July, with much of the organ loft, side balconies, and rooms adjacent to the Chapel of the New Jerusalem dedicated to organ repair. Audible work will pause for daily prayer. During Sundays when the Wolff organ is unavailable, we'll benefit from hearing our other resident instruments.

Choir Tour in the UK
We are delighted that our choirs will be on tour in the UK this summer, in residence at Lincoln Cathedral and St. Paul's Cathedral, London, July 7-20. The formation of choral singers and liturgical leaders is part of the vocation of an Anglican cathedral, and we undertake this work with pride and enthusiasm. We’ll hear some of the choirs’ tour repertoire in the coming Sundays and at a send-off concert on Sunday, July 5 at 2 p.m.

The tour requires the presence of Director of Music Donald Hunt, Assistant Director of Music Mark McDonald, and a cleric, in this case, Vicar Anna Rossi. Further, staff will take much-deserved vacation leave during the summer. To ensure our ongoing public worship, capacity to respond to critical pastoral needs, ministry of presence to visitors and the wider community, as well as continuity of business operations, we will make some adjustments to the summer schedule. Our office hours will follow the pattern of the synod office, opening Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Summer Sundays at the Cathedral
Beginning Sunday, June 21 and continuing through Labor Day weekend, September 6, the regular rhythms of Sundays worship will include Holy Eucharist at 8 a.m. and a combined principal Eucharist at 10:30 a.m. We'll conclude the choral season at a celebratory Evensong at 4 p.m. on Sunday, June 21, and on Sunday, June 28, at 4 p.m. host a Pride Eucharist. Then, throughout July and August, we'll host free summer series concerts at 2 p.m., followed by an evening office at 4 p.m. Some weeks this office will be sung and feature visiting choirs, and on other occasions, we'll pray a spoken office with hymn and organ meditation.

While the choirs tour, and organ renewal is underway, music at our principal Eucharist will include voluntaries and congregational hymns, supported by guest organists as needed. Live-streaming will continue in its typical pattern, with weekly broadcasts of the 10:30 a.m. principal Eucharist and 4 p.m. Evening office.

We will gather for a final combined Eucharist outdoors on Sunday, September 6, at 10:30 a.m. After Labour Day weekend, we look forward to pulling out all the stops on the organ, and returning to the fullness of the cathedral congregation, choir and program year with gusto.

Faithfully,
The Very Reverend Jonathan Thomas,                                            The Reverend Anna E. Rossi
Dean                                                                                                                       Vicar