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Today, Elgar’s The Dream of Gerontius is a national monument. But at its first performance in Birmingham, 105 years ago, the music was thought daring and difficult, while the subject matter was viewed in some quarters with intense suspicion. The text of The Dream of Gerontius – by the Victorian Catholic convert, Cardinal John Henry Newman – is rich in doctrine that had been emphatically rejected by the Protestant church since the time of the Reformation. The central character, Gerontius (the name derives from the Ancient Greek gero¯n, meaning simply ‘old man’), prays for assistance to the Blessed Virgin Mary and to other saints, and after his soulsearing first sight of God, he doesn’t go straight to Heaven, but is committed to Purgatory for purification. For some Protestants in Elgar’s day, all this would have been pure heresy. However, one could argue that this is an essay in the transition from time to eternity viewed through the doctrine of the Roman Church.

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Thursday 24 November 2011 5.30 pm, St Peter's Church

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Peter Siepmann, Director of Music at St Peter's, was asked to participate in a discussion on BBC Radio Nottingham about contemporary vs traditional styles of worship, and music in particular.  Hear his interview with the BBC's Sarah Julian here.

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Coffee Break Concerts

The next series of Coffee Break Concerts at St Peter's Church begins on Saturday 1st October 2011. All concerts begin at 11am, with coffee and biscuits served from 10.15.  For more information on this series, click here.

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Heritage Open Day
Friday 9th/Saturday 10th September 2011, 10am-4pm

St Mary's & St Peter's will again open their doors in September to welcome visitors for Heritage Open Days, 2011.  Experience their history, learn about the architecture, and enjoy activities that will bring the buildings alive.

St Peter's will be open on Friday 9th, and both churches on Saturday 10th, 10am-4pm.  The St Peter's Coffee Room will also be open, serving it's usual range of drinks, homemade cakes and light lunches.

Saturday 10th September will also see the annual 'Ride and Stride', organised by Notts Historic Churches Trust.  For more information, click here

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The original organ at St Peter's was probably built by Lincoln in 1812 and lived on the gallery under the tower until 1878, when it was moved to the chamber on the north side of the chancel. By 1952 it had deteriorated badly and Fenton Wragg overhauled it, adding much material from the organ of St Columba's Church, Mansfield Road. Further overhauls and additions were made by Henry Willis in 1964 and Hill, Norman & Beard in 1983, but by the end of the 20th century there were further problems as much of the mechanism was wearing out. The additions over the years had not solved the problem of the organ being enclosed in a chamber with only two small arches to let the sound out. In particular, the pipes of the Pedal division were tucked away at the back of the chamber and could not be heard properly. When the electronics in the console failed in November 2007 it seemed unwise to spend any more money on the instrument.

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The February 2011 series of St Peter's Coffee Break Concerts are devoted to celebrating the church's magnificent new organ.  All concerts start at 11am and last for one hour, with coffee & biscuits available from 10.15am. Admission free, with donations to the music fund welcome. Please see also the church music list, for details of the service music during this month of celebration of the new organ.

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Despite setbacks over the past few months, work on the new organ for St Peter's is now in its final stages, and we hope that the organ will be used for the first time during the church's Christmas celebrations.  Come and see and hear this remarkable new instrument for yourself!

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Last May, I was privileged to dedicate the Memorial Stone in the Castle grounds naming all the Nottingham and Nottinghamshire V.Cs. It was an event which meant a great deal to relatives and others as a reminder that these heroes deserve lasting public credit for their courage in the face of the enemy. At that ceremony it was fitting to remember the words of Jesus saying that “Greater love has no one than that they lay down their life for their friend” – in this case, their comrades and their country. The similar words which Col. Oldershaw read this morning, also from St John’s gospel, tell the followers of Jesus to love one another as He has loved us - which is a lot easier for all of us to say than to do. As I said, it’s good to honour the fallen as we do today. However, there are many issues about how we as a society protect those still serving, and how we pension the wounded and the widowed. I believe the Services have moved a very long way from recruiting those who only joined because there were no other jobs and treated them, to use that phrase from the First World War, as cannon fodder. But there is no room for complacency. It is we as society whom they serve and we as society have a heavy duty of responsibility.

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Please find below a list of the special services taking place at All Saints', St Mary's and St Peter's during the Advent and Christmas season. 

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