In spite of its relative newcomer status, Liverpool Roman Catholic Metropolitan Cathedral now has one of Britain’s most sought-after choirs, as the country can hear on Christmas Eve. Peter Elson reports

LIVERPOOL’S Roman Catholic Metropolitan Cathedral is one of the country’s landmark modern buildings.

It heralded an irreversible shift into not only a new social era, but a radical change in the way of worship.

However, some aspects do not change. At precisely 11.30 tomorrow evening, on Christmas Eve itself, the voices of the cathedral’s choristers will be heard across the airwaves.

The gentle strains of Silent Night will remind the nation once more of Liverpool’s importance as a great Christian religious centre.

As Liverpool’s year as Capital of Culture draws peacefully to a close, the cathedral choir receives one of the ultimate accolades as the BBC broadcast Midnight Mass there on Radio 4.

All too many people will appreciate that this year’s Midnight Mass will be celebrated at a time when the world is in economic turmoil, with many millions at home and abroad facing an uncertain future.

This situation has brought a unique response from Merseyside’s church leaders who, for the first time, will join together at the Metropolitan Cathedral in giving the Christmas Homily at the Mass.

The Mass will be celebrated by the Most Reverend Patrick Kelly, the Archbishop of Liverpool. The homily will bring a show of the unity for which the city is well known, when church leaders from other denominations will be speaking.

Archbishop Kelly says: “Fragmentation within families, cities, countries, continents, across the world is destructive and often the result of anxiety and growing need.

“This Christmas must be fittingly celebrated in days of anxiety and increasing economic difficulty for tens of thousands.

“As one way to offer authentic comfort and united reassurance, it is wonderful to welcome my fellow church leaders to the Midnight Mass to be broadcast on BBC Radio 4 from the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King.”

This national broadcasting event crowns a remarkable year for the city and also a momentous one for the cathedral choir under their director of music, Tim Noon.

Few cathedrals can match the recent success of this choir. Incredibly, the Christmas broadcast is the third visit by the BBC to the cathedral this year.

The television cameras were there in March for the Solemn Mass on Easter Sunday and, just over a month ago, BBC Radio 3 broadcast Choral Evening Prayer at the start of a major conference of African and European Bishops.

Meanwhile, the month of May saw another highlight with the largest gathering of choristers coming together since the 1953 Coronation.

This occasion was the Annual Conference of the Choir Schools Association, which drew choristers from across the country, including from Westminster Abbey and York Minster.

It was held in Liverpool in recognition of the Capital of Culture status (uniquely, the Cathedral Organists Association also met in Liverpool at the same time).

As 150 choristers assembled on the steps of the cathedral for a photo call, Tim Noon described it as “a tremendous honour for the city”.

He adds: “It was also a terrific opportunity to highlight the amazing singing taking place nationally in our cathedrals on a daily basis.”

In another, much-anticipated direction, May also saw the announcement of the formation of a Girls’ Choir at the Cathedral.

This project came to fruition on Sunday, October 11, when the Cathedral Choir School, St Edward’s College, West Derby, celebrated its annual Mass in the Cathedral.

In common with the boys of the choir, the girls receive their education at St Edward’s College, a secondary school which is rich in academic and musical opportunities.

The formation of the choir means that the Cathedral can now offer sung services on a daily basis. John Waszek, St Edward’s principal (headteacher) says: “A chorister’s education is a rare and exciting challenge. I am delighted that this opportunity will now be offered to our girls, and simultaneously enable daily sung services to take place at the Cathedral.”

In addition to the already present musical riches, the Metropolitan Cathedral has also played host to two world premieres in 2008.

In February, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra gave the first performance of John Tavener’s Requiem, and this month the Cathedral Concerts’ Society performed a new work by Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, Master of the Queen’s Music.

As usual, the Cathedral Choir and Cantata Choir were under the direction of Tim Noon, with cathedral Organist, Richard Lea.

The Philharmonic also paid a return visit in September for a performance of Verdi’s Requiem when conductor, Vasily Petrenko, led the orchestra and massed choirs of over 300 voices.

The Cathedral’s own Cantata Choir, together with the Huddersfield Choral Society and the Leeds Philharmonic, joined the Philharmonic Choir. The microphones were present again as both the Tavener and the Verdi were recorded for broadcast on BBC Radio 3.

With preparations for the Midnight Mass under way, Archbishop Kelly adds: “Please pray that the deed and the message we will share in the name of Our Lord will bring light, joy and peace.”

As that message of peace and unity rings out through words and music from the Cathedral across the country and farther afield, it is hoped that those listening at home, many of them doubtless alone, will feel reassured in what are perhaps for them troubled times.

THE Roman Catholic Metropolitan Cathedral Midnight Mass will begin at 11.30pm and is open to all, tickets are not required, but those wishing to attend should be seated in the Cathedral by 11pm.

peter.elson