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Montreal Cathedral Service Celebrates Golden Jubilee An ecumenical and bilingual Evensong of Thanksgiving gave Montrealers the opportunity this Spring to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Her Majesty's reign. The June 2nd event was held at Christ Church Cathedral, located in the heart of downtown, in the presence of the Hon. Lise Thibault, Lieutenant Governor of Québec. Mme Thibault made her way down the nave of the Cathedral in an atmosphere of absolute quiet and deep respect after she had reviewed an historic regiment of guards drawn up outside the main entrance. Presiding at the service was the Most Reverend Andrew S. Hutchison, Archbishop of the Anglican Diocese of Montreal, and Metropolitan of the Ecclesiastical Province of Canada which comprises the civil provinces of Quebec and the Maritimes. To this observer, the great organ of the Cathedral had never before seemed to reverberate with such happy chords, just as the assembled choirs seemed to have surpassed themselves, especially with their rendition of Handel's Coronation Anthem Zadok the Priest, with string and trumpet accompaniment. This work, composed for the Coronation of George II, was sung at most sacred moment of The Queen's Coronation, the Anointing. Amongst the packed congregation were present Senator Lise Bacon, Senator Serge Joyal, Baron Adam Gubrynowicz, Major-General Frank Norman (Honorary Colonel of the Canadian Grenadier Guards), Lt-Col Bruce Bolton (Commanding Officer of the Black Watch Royal Highland Regiment) and a host of other military figures resplendent in their dress uniforms, together with civilians proudly wearing their medals, a mayor with her magnificent chain of office and many women sporting elegant summer hats. Most of the music, as well as the hymns sung lustily by the assemblage, had been chosen either from the Coronation or from those considered as Royal favorites over the years. Of particular note was Ralph Vaughan Williams' arrangement of The Old Hundredth - All People that on Earth do Dwell - with its soaring trumpet descant and congregational participation, a first for a Coronation. No less impressive was the homily, given in flawless French and English by the Venerable Peter D. Hannen, Vicar-General of the Diocese, and a former Dominion Officer of the Monarchist League of Canada. The service most successfully combined a sense of devotion and a distinctly "royal" ambiance with a feeling of deep emotion, especially at the end of the service when all present sung the Royal and National Anthems. As well, the clergy participation reflected the diverse nature of HM's Canadian subjects. Amongst those robed and taking part in the sanctuary were Msgr. Pierre Saint-Cyr who represented Jean-Claude Cardinal Turcotte; the Revd Marc-Henri Vidal of the Presbyterian Church of Canada; the Most Revered Anthony Gabriel of St George's Antiochan Orthodox parish and the Revd Erick E. Dyck, a Lutheran Pastor. At the reception following the service, the Lieutenant Governor made brief remarks, after which she borrowed an officer's sword to cut an immense Jubilee cake to the smiles and applause of the crowd. All present left the afternoon's proceedings with a 16-page souvenir programme in their hands, a reminder of how the participants had joined in praying fervently that HM would continue to be a source of encouragement for her Parliaments, of determination for her subjects, of inspiration for all during her public appearances, of blessing for her family and of exemplary sacrificial service given freely to God.  |
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