Recent events

Compline at Clumber Park Chapel
Saturday 14th May 2011

On Saturday 14th May the weather was showery but the enthusiasm was as good as ever with 43 singers for our latest visit to Clumber Chapel for the service of Compline to plainsong which we have done every 2 years.

We had to compete this year with the FA Cup Final at Wembley and the Newark and Notts Show at the Newark airfield, so our numbers were a bit down compared to 2009. However this enabled us to occupy the chancel and choir stalls instead of the nave for the event. The rehearsal started at 1 pm and the service at 3 pm. Peter Gould, Director of Music at Derby Cathedral, was our conductor. We were also joined by four of the Southwell Minster lay clerks who added a 4-part motet and also acted as cantors in the absence of the clergy.

RSCM singers in Clumber Chapel

The National Trust was very welcoming and allowed photographs to be taken. In the past, the rules governing photography in the chapel had been very restrictive but their policy has now changed, much to our relief.

I am sure a lot of us are familiar with Clumber Chapel but for the benefit of any new-comers to the county it is an architectural masterpiece—a cathedral in proportions—which has the most amazing acoustics. During the last few months it was closed for essential stone work repairs for damage which unusually had been reported by a birdwatcher with binoculars. I would thoroughly recommend a visit during the summer; the chapel is open for most of the day.

David Cowlishaw RSCM Southwell & Notts Area Treasurer