Brinkburn Mass

Yesterday was the annual Latin Mass (celebrated according to the Missal of Blessed John XXIII) at Brinkburn Priory in Northumberland. It is always one of the highlights of my and the Schola's year and yesterday was no exception.

Earlier this year I had conceived the idea of using the Propers from the Byrd Gradualia, combined with a Chant Ordinary. The Rudgate Singers sang the Byrd Propers for Our Lady's Birthday and Byrd's "Ave Verum" at communion. I am very grateful to Mike Forbester for organising this. The Schola led the singing of Mass IX ("cum jubilo"). The contrasting but complementary music worked extremely well together. I was very happy with the results and many of the congregation offered praise and thanks afterwards. Peter Locke ended off the celebration with a brilliant Prelude and Fugue by Bach.

The Celebrant of the Mass was Fr Michael Brown, who has been an essential element in the Brinkburn Mass since its inception more than ten years ago. It was good to see Fr Emerson FSSP, who had travelled down from Edinburgh bringing his two regular singers with him.

The weather was glorious and to sing and experience this magnificent music as sunlight flooded into the Priory was an enormous privilege.