PARISH HIGHLIGHTS Refreshing the Sounds of the Cathedral in a Year of Proclamation By June Gwee It is significant in this bicentennial for the Cathedral The added location at the South Vestry for the choir to refresh her sounds and rich heritage. Whether organ, allows the sound of organ and choir to come within or without, they reflect symbolically her from the same section of the church and to travel in call to be a witness in the city to the gospel of unison to fill the nave. Christ and the glory of God. THE BELLS THE ORGAN PIPES In 1889, the Cathedral received a peal of eight bells Seated in the pews facing the beautiful stained from the family of Captain J. S. H. Fraser, H.E.I.C.S. glass at the apse, most worshippers do not notice These bronze bells were cast at the John Taylor & Co. the glistening silver pipes at the West gallery of the Foundry in Loughborough, England, the same bell bell tower. Full-bodied, grand and strong, its music foundry that cast the bells of St Paul’s Cathedral in fills the majestic Nave and reminds us of how small London, England. These eight bells, each named after we are amidst all of Creation. an apostle, have been rung every Sunday for services, weddings, funerals, Easter and Christmas. They are The pipe organ, in her various permutations, the city’s call to worship, continuing an Old Testament has been a part of the history of Cathedral since tradition of worship using the clashing sounds of 1861. The present organ is referred to as a nave cymbals. She is also a part of Singapore’s heritage of organ. The organist plays on the console located sounds in the civic district landscape. at the chancel, near the Nativity Chapel, from where the choir sings. When played, the music These bells have been hung dead and rung by is projected from pipes and speakers located in striking them with clappers. However Anglican church the West gallery, just above the main entrance to bells are typically rung by swinging them through an the nave. Their position allows the sound to travel arc of 360 degrees or more to get a fuller sound. This down and through the nave during worship. is called change-ringing. In the 1970s, the pipe organ fell into disuse and The leadership of the Cathedral was alerted to the electronic organs were preferred. The pipes were potential of these bells. In 2018, a process was started silent till 2008, where 415 of them were restored. to raise funds and to get the project underway to add The restoration of the pipes is a very involved the option of change ringing. Experts were called in process and they were sent back to the UK for to ascertain the strength of the bell tower and formal repairs. A second phase was started to restore a approvals were sought from our various authorities. further 600 pipes. Both phases of restoration were The media got wind of this project and an article was made possible by the generosity of donors. published in Strait Times on 18th November 2018 (footnote: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/ The 600 pipes returned and were installed in st-andrews-bells-rung-incorrectly-for-129-years). June this year. One set of pipes was placed at the South Vestry to accompany the choir. The other In Dec 2018, the bells were removed and shipped set of 12 wood pipes now stand, 6 on each side of to John Taylor and Co. in Loughborough, where the silver organ pipes at the West gallery. These they were refurbished and five new bells were twelve columns comprise 7 restored pipes from casted, bringing our set to 13. Meanwhile, repair and 1861, 1 from 1929, and 4 new wooden pipes. restoration works were done to the bell tower. On They are the lowest notes for the pedalboard. The 28th June of this year, the new set of bells returned pipes whether in the Vestry or the West Gallery, in majestic fashion, lined up on a trailer. A new can be played from the same console without change-ringing mechanism will need to be installed. complications. We expect that installation and testing would be completed in early August. The sound of the organ is now richer and fuller. A commissioning service is being planned for both the organ and bells on 11 August at 5 pm, St Andrew's Cathedral. 49
A TRIBUTE TO MS FELICITY FOSTER-CARTER (RIP 18 March 2019, Aged 95) by Revd Canon Louis Tay (Auxiliary Priest at St Andrew’s Cathedral) FELICITY CARTER arrived in Ms Carter's book can be found here: http://www.armourpublishing.com/ Singapore in August 1955, after product/all-things-to-all-people-by-felicity- travelling for four weeks by steamship foster-carter-2/ from Britain. Sent by the United Society for the Propagation of the Gospel became part of the Anglican Welfare (USPG) at age 30, she first served in St Council (AWC), where Felicity was Margaret’s Primary School, where she Coordinator from 1975. taught Scripture, oversaw the Boarding School, and visited the homes of students. Later, Other ministries that Ms Carter she worked in the Parish of St Peter’s Serangoon pioneered include The Christian Gardens, often commuting by bicycle to visit Outreach to the Handicapped (COH), parishioners, and visiting patients in Woodbridge a ministry that provided classes for the Hospital. Felicity also served in St Hilda’s Church intellectually disabled, and Turning (which included helping in St Hilda’s School, Point, a residential ministry to former female drug St Hilda’s Kindergarten and St Andrew’s Orthopaedic addicts. Hospital). At St Andrew’s Cathedral under Dean Ms Carter was also involved in the Christian Anthony Dumper and Vicar Frank Lomax, she Counselling Services of the Singapore Anti- extended her ministry in social work beyond Narcotics Association (SANA) where she was the interdenominational community services, to offer Board Secretary; as well as St John’s Home for the help to prisoners, vagrants, the chronically sick, Aged in Sennett Estate. leprosy sufferers and those with drug addiction. In her 45-page biography, All Things to All People (Armour Publishing 2011), she wrote, Ms Carter was also the pioneer of the Samaritans “One thing you have to come to terms with in my of Singapore, a ministry that provides support to nature of work, as in many others, is letting people those in crisis or thinking about suicide, and Good go. But the great thing is that we can always pray Neighbours, a ministry that visited patients in for them” (page 44). long-term institutions who were vagrants, chronically Of Ms Carter’s life and great contributions to sick or mentally ill. Good Neighbours eventually the Diocese of Singapore, Bishop Rennis Ponniah says, “May Felicity’s life and love continue to inspire us to love the Lord and live for the service of others in His name.” For your heart of compassion and service, Felicity, thank you.
Search
