Page 10 - The Portal magazine - March 2025

THE P RTAL March 2025 Page 10

More Patrimony

in The Borough

Christopher Smith and David Chapman

HE CHURCH of the Most Precious Blood, Borough, near London Bridge is, as readers probably know,
Tin the care of the Ordinariate. The church has been most beautifully restored and has become the heart of
a vibrant parish. Under its musical director, Christopher Smith, it is also developing a fine musical tradition.

The installation of the 1874/1912 Lewis pipe organ at
Most Precious Blood, transplanted from an Anglican
Church in Battersea, came at the end of a one and a
quarter million pound restoration of the Church and
has proved to be a catalyst for a number of musical and
educational ventures.

There are monthly organ recitals, usually on the
first Saturday of the month at 12.30pm. These are
preceded by Mass in the Ordinariate rite and spiritual
pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham T om W inpenn y
Tom Winpenny
at 10.30am. Refreshments follow Mass; this is, after all,
an Ordinariate church! share his love for the music traditionally sung at a full
Choral Evensong.
These monthly recitals have been going for a while,
and are increasingly popular. The February one was The first of these monthly Choral Evensongs was at
given by Ed Tambling of St James’, Spanish Place the beginning of February when the Canticles were
and the March one (you may just catch it if you read sung to “Brewer in D”, with the Ayleward responses
your Portal promptly!) by Tom Winpenny who will and an anthem by Richard Lloyd – “View me, Lord, a
play music by Diemer, Vaughan Williams, J S Bach, work of Thine”; words by Thomas Campion. The series
Bingham and Elgar. will continue on the second Wednesday of each month
at 7.00pm. If the first one was anything to go by, this
The organ is used by a number of students for practice will also become a popular occasion, with refreshments
in addition to its duties accompanying the liturgy. It and lively conversation following the service.
is an instrument ideally suited to the Anglican choral
repertoire, as can be heard on any Sunday morning. More details of the parish and the organ recitals may
This prompted a student at the Royal College of Music be found at www.preciousblood.org.uk
to form a choir from friends and fellow students who