Page 12 - 2nd Proofs

St Martin-in-the-Fields Choir Visit 2018

The International Partnership Ministry aims to foster strategic partnerships and rela-
tions between the Cathedral and churches and institutions within Africa and beyond.

After a visit to South Africa by a delegation from St Martin-in-the-
Fields, London (SMITF) and a visit to SMITF by a delegation from
the Cathedral in 2017, both parties agreed that SMITF choir would
visit Johannesburg in 2018. In return, a youth delegation will go on
a pilgrimage to London in 2019 and the Cathedral choir in 2020.
The SMITF 27 member choir including the Vicar Sam Wells visited
South Africa from 21 – 30 September 2018. The purpose of the
visit was to strengthen the partnership and to share music and
participate in two concerts, one hosted by St John’s College on
Wednesday, 26th September and the second by the Cathedral on
Sunday, 30th September 2018.

The Dean gave the choir exceptional hospitality at his residence ST MARTIN IN-THE-FIELDS
and again at his mother’s home in Soweto. The choir also experi-
enced extraordinarily educational visits to the Apartheid Museum With Dean and the Cathedral Choir.
and to the Constitutional Hill at Braamfontein, Alexandra and the
Mandela Foundation.
The Dean Xolani Bursary Fund was launched at the Cathedral concert
The highlight of the choir’s trip was the Sunday Afternoon Choral on Sunday, 30th September 2018. Proceeds of both concerts to aid
Concert that took place at the Cathedral on Sunday 30 September. the bursary fund for underprivileged young South Africans.
In the morning, the choir shared communion together, adapting
and learning new ways of doing things. In the afternoon the St Special Thanks to:
Martin’s choir sang in sequence alongside the Quava Vocal Group, Quava Vocal Group &
the Ionian Strings Ensemble, and the Soweto Melodic Voices as
they were hosted by the Cathedral for the Sunday Afternoon Choral
Concert. - ARTICLE BY: YOLANDE MOKHANTSO

The Cathedral of St Mary the Virgin - Newsletter I page 12