Chapel Report

It’s a splendid description of our Chapel building, which this year marked its sestercentenary. The words are taken from a sermon, given by the then-Master of Clare, Dr Peter Godard, at the Chapel’s consecration in 1769. The remarkable survival of the full liturgy from that occasion allowed us, in November, to hold a special service, based on the original, to celebrate the Chapel’s 250th anniversary. The Choral Eucharist was led by the Bishop of Ely, who not only preached for us, but also took the opportunity to bless the building, and the congregation, with prodigious amounts of holy water!

One of the joys of this year has been re-energising our links with Clare Hall. Since Clare Hall doesn’t have a Chapel of its own, our Chapel is also their Chapel, and so in Michaelmas Term we welcomed a large delegation of Clare Hall students, led by their graduate President, to an Evensong service, followed by a drinks reception. This was so well received that it was repeated in Lent Term, and established warm ties of friendship between Clare Hall students and our own graduate congregation.

Chapel life continued to flourish outside, as well as inside, the Chapel this year. Over the course of Michaelmas and Lent Terms, there was a fascinating History of Cambridge walk led by Dr Alice Soulieux-Evans, a Quiet Day in Little Gidding (a place famously associated with Clare’s own Nicholas Ferrar, and immortalised in one of the Chapel’s stained glass windows), and the inaugural Dean’s Port evening in E3, which was a suitably convivial affair.

We welcomed a number of new Chapel Wardens to join our friendly team of student helpers, and two of them – Hannah Grady and Griffin Black – were engaged to be married in February, following a scenic proposal in the Fellows’ Garden, and a surprise serenade by the Choir, singing Set me as a seal upon thy heart from the Clare Bridge.

As with all aspects of College life, Chapel services came to a rather abrupt conclusion in the spring. It was perhaps fitting that what proved to be our final Evensong in situ, on Thursday 12th March, concluded with a stirring rendition of The Day thou gavest, Lord, is ended.

Our Easter Term offerings, as you might expect, were rather different from anything that had gone before. During the Easter vacation, I got to grips with YouTube in order to produce weekly video reflections for the whole College community, featuring contributions from lots of students, as well as my two young daughters, who seemed to enjoy the limelight!

Once term began in earnest, the Director of Music and I created ClareCast, a weekly podcast featuring choral music from our Choir, readings, prayers, reflections from guest speakers, and interviews. Our aim was to allow everyone to still feel connected to the life of the Chapel and Choir, and we received very encouraging feedback on these recordings.

We look towards Michaelmas Term 2020 in thankfulness for what has been given, and in hope for what is to come, echoing the words of the Psalmist: