The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1870-07-12 00:00:00

WIMBORNE MI NSTBR.

CHORAL FISTIVAL. —A church festlvel took place at
the Minster no luesiday. Fifteen choir. were brought
together, •j., Wimborne, IS; Lonsfieet St. Mary
19; Cenford Magna, 17; Milburn. ttt. Andrew, 14.
Ge..age to. Michael, 8; Stourparr e, 13 ; Corte Castle,
'27 Crienborne, 14; Spetisbory and Ch•rlton. 20;
Pi,npoine, 4 ; Blandford, is; Kin.on, 31; Gesso'.
All &int*, 17 ; and the voice were, 74 treble., 19 altos,
2 tenor., 42 besses, nod 53 females. In addition were
two choirs of which no returos were made. Service
aimmeneed it four o'clock, when the Minster was filed.
Mr. Whitehead Smith, organist, occupied hie usual
poet.. The seats under the oentrel tower were occupied
by the unsurpliced singers, and those in the side aisles
and the transepts by the genersl coogregation. The
sorehead &etre robed in the crept, from which, as the
opening notes of the organ were heard, they proceeded
to single file towards tbe western end of the sacred
editioe—one half passing down the N. aisle, and the
other ball down the S. side aisle. On meetiog at the
western end the choristers passed in procession by twos.
up the centre of the n.ve to the ehanoel, the clergy
also surpliced—following. As • processional they 'Keg
"Angels Holy." Having taken their places, the hymn
" Round the Lord in glory seated," from the &rem
Hymnal. was song. After brief silence, allowed for
private devotion, the Te Deum followed—to Dr. Dykes'
music--with steadiness and precision. Evening prayer
then proceeded, the Rev. L. D. W. D. Darner, vicar of
Csnford Magna. intoning the service, which was
Wesey in F, The responses were fairly rendered by
the choirs. The 'emitted choirs in the chancel tang
the Decani part of all 'the music, or the last half of
each yen.° of the Psalms; the unserplioed choir in the
nave taking the other—Centoris—part. The Psalms
were sung to chant service by Purcell (mair and
minor) and &ruby. The anthem " Praise the Lord"
(Scott), was highly creditable, considering the small
amount of primulae by the choirs. The first lesson was
read by the Rev. Prebendary Carnegie, vicar of emu.
borne, and rural dean of Piiuperne ; the second lesson
was read by the Re.. H. Good, of Wimborne. The
other clergy present were the Roy. Prebendary Onslow
(Wimborne). the Rev. C It. W. W4dy (Outrage All
Uinta), the Rev. S. S. Keddly (Wimborne). the Rey.
J. H. Ward (Oipeage Mt. Michael), the Rev. J. L.
Williams (Loneliest St. Mary), the Rev. C. G. Wheat
(lilborne St. Andrew). the Revs. H. B. Visard and J.
W. C.ttle (Spetiabory). "How beautiful the feet,"
No. 212 of Hymns Ancient and Modern, was sung
before the sermon. The Rev. W. R. Clark, rector of
St. Mary's, Taunton, had engaged to occupy the pulpit,
but tithe lust moment • telegram wan received an-
nouncing that the rev. gentleman was unavoidably
preventei front fulfilling his engagement. Ia his ab-
sence the sermon was preached by the Rev. Lester.
Lester, who chose for his text Psalm cviii. 1 (Prayer
Book version), "0 God, my heart is ready, my heart is
ready; I will sing and give praise with the best member
th st I have." After the sermon "holy, Holy. Floly.L rrd"
(Hymns Ancient and Modern), was sung, during which the
offertory was made. The blessing was then pronouneed
and the surpliced choirs left the chancel, returning as
they came (both sides together down the nave and after-
wards separating), to the crypt, singing the reoessional
hymn, "Now. Alleluias sound ye," all the other choirs
j ,ining from their places. Servile ended the choirs pro-
ceeded to the Nation.l School to partake of tea, which
had been liberally provided by several 'alio, and gentle-
men of the town. l'he school-rooms, including the two
classrooms, were filled, and in all there were twelve
Inc tables, the following ladies presiding :—Mrs. G.
ehislett, Mrs. Hawes, Mrs. W. Webb, Mrs. Clogstoun,
Mr.. Idunckton, Mrs. Seward, Mn. Sudden, Miss
Michel. Miss Twinch, Miss Finley, Miss 1... Tanner,
Miss Tanner, Miss Huntley, Miss A. Tanner, Mrs
Bever-stock, Miss Allen, Mrs. Collins, Mrs. Hopkins.
Mrs. Paget, the /shows Fletcher, the Misses Moilean,
Mrs. Unlock, Mrs. Kyddle, Miss Linthorn, Mrs. Druitt,
and Mies Scrip. From the school the choirs went to
the Corn Exchange, where • large audience was as-
sembled to hear glee-singing. The various choirs
rendered their pitons remarkably well, and everybody
was delighted. Admittance to the glee-singing was •
shilling e.oh, and the attendance being large • owlet.
der•ble sum was raised towards meeting the day's ex-
penses. Mr. Whitehead Smith presided ;t the
harmonies', Mrs. Edwards taking that duty daring the
singing of the Blandford choir. The chief portion of
the choristers returned by the nine o'clock train.