0:00:05 > 0:00:09Westminster Abbey is a flagship institution.
0:00:09 > 0:00:11It's at the centre of national life in this country.
0:00:11 > 0:00:14Westminster Abbey is the Coronation Church.
0:00:14 > 0:00:17The Abbey has been the place where people commemorate
0:00:17 > 0:00:19the great men and women of our history.
0:00:19 > 0:00:22Here was the origins of Parliament.
0:00:22 > 0:00:24I think of the Abbey as being an upbeat place.
0:00:24 > 0:00:28The most unusual phone call was from Michelle Obama's secret service.
0:00:28 > 0:00:31On a standard day, we would probably process 1,000 people per hour.
0:00:31 > 0:00:34Even though we are a massive tourist attraction,
0:00:34 > 0:00:37- we still are very much a living church.- Westminster Abbey
0:00:37 > 0:00:40represents faith at the heart of the nation.
0:00:40 > 0:00:43To think there have been people with their eyes turned in the same direction,
0:00:43 > 0:00:46towards worship of God in this place, for over 1,000 years.
0:00:46 > 0:00:49There's a feeling of a really Rolls-Royce musical set-up here.
0:00:49 > 0:00:53Being the Queen's choristers, we really can't afford to let her down.
0:00:53 > 0:00:55Quite a lot I see people crying.
0:00:55 > 0:00:59When you sing, it brings tears of joy AND sadness.
0:00:59 > 0:01:03I do wake up every day and think this is a fantastic place to be.
0:01:03 > 0:01:04It's a thrill, even after 17 years.
0:01:04 > 0:01:07Can you believe you've got that to look after?
0:01:07 > 0:01:10There's a tremendous sense of being part of something
0:01:10 > 0:01:12that goes back all those hundreds of years.
0:01:12 > 0:01:13It's a magnificent building.
0:01:13 > 0:01:15I feel like I'm part of history, just being here.
0:01:35 > 0:01:38Westminster Abbey has stood by the banks of the River Thames
0:01:38 > 0:01:41in London since the Middle Ages
0:01:41 > 0:01:43and follows a cycle of worship
0:01:43 > 0:01:47with traditions that stretch back to the birth of Christianity.
0:01:49 > 0:01:53For the community who live and work here, upholding these traditions
0:01:53 > 0:01:57and maintaining the quality of worship is their driving force.
0:01:57 > 0:02:01Being in the Abbey early in the day is a marvellous experience.
0:02:01 > 0:02:04There's a feeling of calm and peacefulness
0:02:04 > 0:02:07and a real sense of prayer.
0:02:07 > 0:02:11And you capture the essence of 900 years of worship in this place.
0:02:11 > 0:02:14So it's a great privilege to be here early in the day.
0:02:14 > 0:02:16But I have to do the washing up
0:02:16 > 0:02:19and tidy up some books from morning prayer.
0:02:20 > 0:02:23Then I'll have some breakfast.
0:02:23 > 0:02:25BELL RINGS
0:02:29 > 0:02:31For over 160 years,
0:02:31 > 0:02:34Westminster Abbey has run a small boarding school
0:02:34 > 0:02:38for around 30 boys between the ages of eight and 13,
0:02:38 > 0:02:41who live full-time within the Abbey grounds.
0:02:41 > 0:02:45INSTRUMENTS TUNE UP
0:02:51 > 0:02:54They all have two instrumental practices a day.
0:02:54 > 0:02:56And this first one is done all together after breakfast
0:02:56 > 0:02:58before going over to the Song School.
0:02:58 > 0:03:01And the second practise we timetable during the course of the day
0:03:01 > 0:03:04so there's just six boys practising with the director of music.
0:03:04 > 0:03:08But at this point, yes, they're practising in every nook and cranny.
0:03:08 > 0:03:09Hence the cacophony of sound.
0:03:18 > 0:03:22Good morning, Form 2. Can you go and get your books, please?
0:03:22 > 0:03:28Between 9:30 and 3:30, the boys here study like any other schoolchildren.
0:03:28 > 0:03:29This is the Form 1 classroom.
0:03:29 > 0:03:33At the moment we're looking at the different parts that make up the UK.
0:03:33 > 0:03:36So at the moment we're concentrating on the different flags
0:03:36 > 0:03:38and how they go together to make up the Union Jack.
0:03:38 > 0:03:40And also how the Wales flag
0:03:40 > 0:03:42isn't represented. Which we all thought was a bit unfair
0:03:42 > 0:03:44because the Welsh dragon
0:03:44 > 0:03:47is the most exciting flag, we've decided, overall.
0:03:47 > 0:03:51The reason the boys are here is that they've been chosen to sing
0:03:51 > 0:03:53in the Abbey's world-famous choir.
0:03:53 > 0:03:56The Abbey started as a Benedictine monastery
0:03:56 > 0:04:00and it goes back to the first millennium, in fact.
0:04:00 > 0:04:05Nobody knows exactly when a monastic community first began here,
0:04:05 > 0:04:08but it goes back certainly beyond 960.
0:04:09 > 0:04:14The rhythm of our life now is very similar to the monastic rhythm,
0:04:14 > 0:04:17which was based on the monks coming to sing.
0:04:17 > 0:04:20They sang, they didn't say things.
0:04:20 > 0:04:24There's a feeling of the same kind of daily rhythm of work going on.
0:04:24 > 0:04:28Let's do some of these to a lip trill with an R...
0:04:28 > 0:04:33Every year there are over 1,500 services at Westminster Abbey,
0:04:33 > 0:04:37and every week in term-time, eight of them are sung by the choir.
0:04:37 > 0:04:38Being a chorister of
0:04:38 > 0:04:41Westminster Abbey is a bit like being part
0:04:41 > 0:04:46of a huge family with 31 boys because we're all so close.
0:04:46 > 0:04:48THEY SING SCALES
0:04:50 > 0:04:52It's amazing singing in the Abbey
0:04:52 > 0:04:56when people have sung here for years and years and years.
0:04:56 > 0:05:01It's carrying on a legacy. It's very daunting.
0:05:07 > 0:05:11Westminster Abbey is a flagship institution
0:05:11 > 0:05:12because of its position.
0:05:12 > 0:05:16It's in London, it's right next to the Houses of Parliament.
0:05:16 > 0:05:19It's right there at the centre of public life,
0:05:19 > 0:05:22national life, in this country.
0:05:22 > 0:05:26The music of the Abbey is part of the main mission of the Abbey,
0:05:26 > 0:05:28as we call it, which is worship.
0:05:32 > 0:05:35Maintaining that rhythm, that continuity,
0:05:35 > 0:05:39at the highest level we can, is our responsibility,
0:05:39 > 0:05:41and specifically mine, as Director of Music.
0:05:48 > 0:05:51It's a fantastic place to work. Every day's different.
0:05:51 > 0:05:52You come in, you don't know
0:05:52 > 0:05:54what you're going to do. I can't plan a day.
0:05:54 > 0:05:5715 full-time staff have the formidable task
0:05:57 > 0:06:00of maintaining this historic monument.
0:06:00 > 0:06:04Early in the morning this time of year you might get a severe frost.
0:06:04 > 0:06:05The lead can be very slippery
0:06:05 > 0:06:08so you might have to wait till sun comes up
0:06:08 > 0:06:11because it would be like a skating rink up here.
0:06:11 > 0:06:14If it gets blocked up, then it overflows inside the building
0:06:14 > 0:06:17and we can get quite a bit of damage on the stonework.
0:06:17 > 0:06:22Any of the terrific ceilings we've got here can be quite badly damaged.
0:06:22 > 0:06:25At the moment we're on Henry VII's chapel roof.
0:06:25 > 0:06:27And, at this time of year, it's not too bad.
0:06:27 > 0:06:29Not a lot of rubbish at the moment.
0:06:29 > 0:06:32But in the autumn you get a lot of leaves from all the plane trees.
0:06:32 > 0:06:37You get an awful lot of rubbish most of the year from those.
0:06:37 > 0:06:38And it's a non-stop job.
0:06:43 > 0:06:46Like thousands of churches across the world,
0:06:46 > 0:06:48the Abbey follows a daily pattern of worship
0:06:48 > 0:06:52which reflects the Christian belief that Christ suffered, died and rose
0:06:52 > 0:06:57from the dead to give eternal life to those who believe in him.
0:06:57 > 0:07:00Let's pray for the life and work of the Abbey.
0:07:00 > 0:07:01ALL: Amen.
0:07:01 > 0:07:05The Abbey is governed by a body called the Dean and Chapter,
0:07:05 > 0:07:09made up of five senior clergy and a lay executive.
0:07:09 > 0:07:13The Dean and spiritual leader is the Very Reverend Dr John Hall.
0:07:13 > 0:07:15We live in a curious way,
0:07:15 > 0:07:18in a place like this,
0:07:18 > 0:07:20with linear development
0:07:20 > 0:07:24but also with cyclical or circular development.
0:07:24 > 0:07:29Every day has its round of worship, every week has its round of worship.
0:07:29 > 0:07:33On Friday, we remember the passion of Our Lord every Friday.
0:07:33 > 0:07:36Sunday, we remember the resurrection of the Lord every Sunday.
0:07:36 > 0:07:40So it has that round effect during the course of a week
0:07:40 > 0:07:42and during the course of a year.
0:07:44 > 0:07:50Today is the Feast of Candlemass which marks the end of Christmas
0:07:50 > 0:07:53and the start of a new season in the Christian calendar.
0:07:53 > 0:07:56This is the Dean's cloth of gold cope,
0:07:56 > 0:07:58it's the best cope that we have.
0:07:58 > 0:08:03We have gold for festival days, and today is Candlemass,
0:08:03 > 0:08:06which represents the last official day of Christmas,
0:08:06 > 0:08:08when Christ was presented in the temple.
0:08:08 > 0:08:13It was made especially for our Dean because he's well over six foot tall
0:08:13 > 0:08:16and some of our other copes don't quite fit him very well.
0:08:17 > 0:08:22Candlemass is a lovely service in itself, I always feel,
0:08:22 > 0:08:27where you light candles and think of the light of Christ
0:08:27 > 0:08:28shining in the darkness.
0:08:28 > 0:08:32What we actually are remembering, though,
0:08:32 > 0:08:36is the presentation of Christ in the temple, 40 days after his birth.
0:08:36 > 0:08:41So the 2nd of February is 40 days after the 25th of December.
0:08:41 > 0:08:45And it's, in a sense, the culmination
0:08:45 > 0:08:47of our remembrance of Christmas time.
0:08:50 > 0:08:54We probably get about 200 to 300.
0:08:54 > 0:08:58But the trouble is, with services like this, it's very unknown.
0:08:58 > 0:09:02So it's always better to cater for more than less.
0:09:02 > 0:09:05One of the joys of being a church musician is being aware
0:09:05 > 0:09:08of the changing seasons of the Church's year
0:09:08 > 0:09:11and the fact there is a personality to them.
0:09:11 > 0:09:13So the personality of Candlemass,
0:09:13 > 0:09:17as the slightly poignant end of the Christmas season, technically,
0:09:17 > 0:09:20and the beginning of Lent, where things change quite dramatically,
0:09:20 > 0:09:24that's a rather nice thing to be aware of, and I think to capture.
0:09:24 > 0:09:27It's nice, it's like the changing seasons of autumn becoming winter
0:09:27 > 0:09:29and winter becoming spring.
0:09:29 > 0:09:31In a sense, this is the Church's equivalent of that.
0:09:31 > 0:09:35Can you find the Candlemass sheet now?
0:09:35 > 0:09:37- Have you done any of this yet? BOYS:- No.- OK.
0:09:37 > 0:09:39So, page one.
0:09:40 > 0:09:44Who would like to have a go at intoning this? Andrew.
0:09:45 > 0:09:48# Behold our God
0:09:48 > 0:09:52ALL: # We come with mighty power
0:09:52 > 0:10:00# To give light to the eyes of his servants
0:10:00 > 0:10:07# Hallelujah... #
0:10:07 > 0:10:11Candlemass is an ancient feast when traditionally,
0:10:11 > 0:10:14beeswax candles were blessed for the coming year.
0:10:16 > 0:10:20The daily services at Westminster Abbey are open to the public.
0:10:20 > 0:10:23At this one, the congregation gathers in the dark
0:10:23 > 0:10:26by the Great West Door to wait for the blessing.
0:10:29 > 0:10:30The source of everlasting light,
0:10:30 > 0:10:35bless these candles for your servant's peace.
0:10:35 > 0:10:38SINGING
0:10:54 > 0:10:56It's the end of the Christmas period,
0:10:56 > 0:11:00and now we turn away from Christmas
0:11:00 > 0:11:06and we're beginning to face towards the next great moment
0:11:06 > 0:11:10in the Church's year, which is Lent and Easter.
0:11:11 > 0:11:14As well as being the Abbey's spiritual head,
0:11:14 > 0:11:16the Dean is also responsible for a world heritage site
0:11:16 > 0:11:20whose buildings need constant attention.
0:11:20 > 0:11:25Architect Ptolemy Dean has just been appointed Surveyor of the Fabric,
0:11:25 > 0:11:27the man in charge of upkeep.
0:11:27 > 0:11:31One of the things that's immediately apparent
0:11:31 > 0:11:34when you suddenly take responsibility for these buildings
0:11:34 > 0:11:37is the scale of them. Look at the scale of it!
0:11:37 > 0:11:39Acres and acres of lead roof.
0:11:39 > 0:11:43So it's an incredible task.
0:11:43 > 0:11:46A huge responsibility just to keep the building going.
0:11:49 > 0:11:52I've never stood here before, but turn your head
0:11:52 > 0:11:56and look at what beholds thee. Westminster Abbey.
0:12:00 > 0:12:03Can you believe you've got that to look after?
0:12:05 > 0:12:09One of the things I've got to do is the quinquennial survey.
0:12:09 > 0:12:12That's a really big task, that's the condition of the building.
0:12:12 > 0:12:16It's carried out every five years, hence quinquennial.
0:12:16 > 0:12:18And I'm looking forward to it, actually,
0:12:18 > 0:12:21because it means you have to go over every single bit of the building
0:12:21 > 0:12:24and work out what needs to be done.
0:12:24 > 0:12:28For instance, look at this. This is a classic bit of cement.
0:12:29 > 0:12:33Botched on to keep the profile of the mullion, but it's so hard.
0:12:34 > 0:12:40It's so impermeable, and it's poor quality repairs,
0:12:40 > 0:12:42particularly of the mid-20th century.
0:12:42 > 0:12:44They were so excited about using modern materials
0:12:44 > 0:12:47to repair old buildings of course they didn't realise
0:12:47 > 0:12:50these modern materials are incompatible chemically
0:12:50 > 0:12:54and minerally. And of course the reason it comes off in one's hand
0:12:54 > 0:12:59is because the moisture has got behind the cement and just trapped
0:12:59 > 0:13:03and so broken down the surface of the softer stone underneath.
0:13:04 > 0:13:09The first person to hold the post of Surveyor of the Fabric here
0:13:09 > 0:13:13was Sir Christopher Wren, who built St Paul's Cathedral.
0:13:13 > 0:13:16Ptolemy, have you got anything to wear?
0:13:16 > 0:13:17I have.
0:13:17 > 0:13:19You have actually got something?
0:13:19 > 0:13:20I have got the robes.
0:13:20 > 0:13:23Following in Wren's august footsteps,
0:13:23 > 0:13:26Ptolemy Dean is about to be installed as the 19th Surveyor,
0:13:26 > 0:13:31and is preparing for a ceremony dating back to the 16th century
0:13:31 > 0:13:32and the reign of Elizabeth I.
0:13:32 > 0:13:36It culminates in the Dean giving him his own seat in the Quire stalls.
0:13:36 > 0:13:39Mr Dean, I present to you Ptolemy Dean to be admitted
0:13:39 > 0:13:42and installed as Surveyor of the Fabric of this Collegiate Church.
0:13:42 > 0:13:46Then I'll say, "The ancient and distinguished officer
0:13:46 > 0:13:50"of Surveyor of the Fabric to which you, Ptolemy, have been appointed,
0:13:50 > 0:13:53"comes with great privilege and responsibility.
0:13:53 > 0:13:57"It is your duty to care for the fabric and ornaments of this Abbey
0:13:57 > 0:14:01"so these stones may speak to all of the beauty of God's holiness.
0:14:01 > 0:14:03"Are you willing to accept these duties?"
0:14:03 > 0:14:05To which you answer?
0:14:06 > 0:14:10"I am and will perform them by the help of God."
0:14:10 > 0:14:11Excellent.
0:14:12 > 0:14:16And then I say, right hand,
0:14:16 > 0:14:19"I, John Robert Hall, Dean of this College, admit you, Ptolemy Dean,
0:14:19 > 0:14:22"etc, to the office of Surveyor of the Fabric and place you in
0:14:22 > 0:14:24"the stall assigned to you in the Quire, in the..."
0:14:24 > 0:14:26Do I say that here or do I take him up first?
0:14:26 > 0:14:29- You normally take him up first. - I think I take you up first.
0:14:29 > 0:14:33I take you by the hand and lead you, and you turn round.
0:14:34 > 0:14:36No, no. Turn round.
0:14:36 > 0:14:39Come back. It's going to be like a do-si-do.
0:14:41 > 0:14:43Take the right hand.
0:14:43 > 0:14:47You turn back, and then I push you forward.
0:14:47 > 0:14:49- Oh, OK.- And you walk forward. Go on.
0:14:51 > 0:14:52CHOIR SINGS
0:15:01 > 0:15:06I, John Robert Hall, Dean of this College, admit you, Ptolemy Dean,
0:15:06 > 0:15:09to the office of Surveyor of the Fabric
0:15:09 > 0:15:12and place you in the stall assigned to you in Quire,
0:15:12 > 0:15:16in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
0:15:16 > 0:15:18Amen.
0:15:22 > 0:15:26It's a wonderful privilege to be here.
0:15:26 > 0:15:31And, like all privilege, you don't want to mess it up.
0:15:31 > 0:15:33And you realise you're adding on to something
0:15:33 > 0:15:37that's absolutely in the forefront of the national identity.
0:15:37 > 0:15:41It's something that everyone's looking at, watching all the time.
0:15:41 > 0:15:42It's a daunting privilege.
0:15:44 > 0:15:48Ptolemy Dean has taken a vow which harks back to monastic times
0:15:48 > 0:15:51when Dunstan, a future Archbishop of Canterbury,
0:15:51 > 0:15:53founded a monastery here. His community
0:15:53 > 0:15:56lived by the Rule of St Benedict,
0:15:56 > 0:15:59who founded a religious order in Italy in the 6th century.
0:16:00 > 0:16:04When King Edward came to the throne in 1043, he couldn't leave
0:16:04 > 0:16:08his turbulent kingdom to pay homage to the Pope in Rome.
0:16:08 > 0:16:11So the Pope ordered him to build a church to St Peter,
0:16:11 > 0:16:13the founder of the Catholic Church.
0:16:13 > 0:16:17He chose to build it on the site of Dunstan's monastery by the Thames.
0:16:17 > 0:16:21One of the wonderful things about the history of Westminster Abbey
0:16:21 > 0:16:24is Edward the Confessor, who's our saint and who's here.
0:16:24 > 0:16:28And of course he was King of England until 1066.
0:16:28 > 0:16:32And he rebuilt the Abbey, glorious Romanesque building,
0:16:32 > 0:16:35the biggest building in the land I should have thought at the time,
0:16:35 > 0:16:37as well as building his palace here.
0:16:37 > 0:16:41So he lived here, beside the Abbey, rebuilt the Abbey,
0:16:41 > 0:16:44brought more monks here, so it was a very great and wonderful building.
0:16:44 > 0:16:48And Church buttressing state, state buttressing Church,
0:16:48 > 0:16:51no doubt Church challenging state, state challenging Church.
0:16:51 > 0:16:54But here, together, at the heart of our national life.
0:16:54 > 0:16:57And that's how it always has been, since the 11th century.
0:17:00 > 0:17:04200 years later, in honour of Edward the Confessor,
0:17:04 > 0:17:05Henry III rebuilt the Abbey,
0:17:05 > 0:17:09and much of the building we see today dates from his reign.
0:17:09 > 0:17:12At the heart of the complex is the Chapter House,
0:17:12 > 0:17:16which has a remarkable place in British history.
0:17:16 > 0:17:19The Abbey's archaeologist, Professor Warwick Rodwell,
0:17:19 > 0:17:22has spent many years studying it.
0:17:22 > 0:17:25The Chapter House at Westminster is unique,
0:17:25 > 0:17:29and unlike any other Chapter House in an abbey.
0:17:29 > 0:17:31Because this served two roles.
0:17:31 > 0:17:36It wasn't just the place where the abbot and monks met every day -
0:17:36 > 0:17:39which is what a Chapter House is for, the meeting room of the abbey -
0:17:39 > 0:17:42it was also a meeting room for the king.
0:17:42 > 0:17:46And the king held his council here.
0:17:46 > 0:17:50And he began to build this, probably in 1249.
0:17:50 > 0:17:53It was finished by about 1253.
0:17:53 > 0:17:56Thereafter, it began to serve as a chamber
0:17:56 > 0:17:59in which the King's council met.
0:17:59 > 0:18:02And so, here was the origins of Parliament.
0:18:02 > 0:18:06This is the place where what we call today the House of Commons
0:18:06 > 0:18:11first began to meet under the king, in the 1250s.
0:18:11 > 0:18:15And the king or abbot would have taken up his position here,
0:18:15 > 0:18:20in the centre, facing west, ready to address his audience.
0:18:20 > 0:18:22Or, in the case of the abbot, address the monks.
0:18:27 > 0:18:30The architecture all around us on a day like this,
0:18:30 > 0:18:35with the sun coming in, lighting up the wall paintings on all sides.
0:18:35 > 0:18:40Imagine it not in its muted state, that it is today,
0:18:40 > 0:18:46but everything glowing and sparkling with paint, gilding and tapestry.
0:18:46 > 0:18:49It is one of the great architectural wonders of Europe.
0:18:52 > 0:18:56By the time of Henry VIII, the business of parliament had outgrown
0:18:56 > 0:18:59the Abbey and had moved to the Palace of Westminster.
0:18:59 > 0:19:05Henry's reign proved a cataclysmic time for the Catholic Church.
0:19:05 > 0:19:09When the Pope wouldn't grant him a divorce, he broke with Rome in 1534.
0:19:09 > 0:19:13He made himself the head of the Church in England
0:19:13 > 0:19:16and ordered the destruction of Catholic monasteries.
0:19:16 > 0:19:19Henry spared Westminster Abbey
0:19:19 > 0:19:22because so many of his ancestors had been crowned and buried here.
0:19:22 > 0:19:25His daughter, the Anglican Elizabeth I,
0:19:25 > 0:19:27supported the Abbey's unique status.
0:19:27 > 0:19:31And since 1560, a Dean - a Church of England cleric -
0:19:31 > 0:19:33has been in charge.
0:19:33 > 0:19:37This is the long gallery, the Deanery,
0:19:37 > 0:19:40which was built in the 14th century, originally,
0:19:40 > 0:19:44although there was a fire in 1941 so some of it has been rebuilt.
0:19:44 > 0:19:47But this is where the Abbot of Westminster lived.
0:19:47 > 0:19:51And since 1560, it has been the home of the Deans of Westminster.
0:19:51 > 0:19:53I'm the 38th Dean.
0:19:53 > 0:19:57One of the earliest of them is Gabriel Goodman, who's here.
0:19:57 > 0:20:00He came from Ruthin, in North Wales.
0:20:00 > 0:20:05He was Dean through most of the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.
0:20:05 > 0:20:08So he was the first person to be appointed Dean
0:20:08 > 0:20:11who had not actually been a monk here beforehand.
0:20:11 > 0:20:14He was very close to the Queen's private secretary,
0:20:14 > 0:20:18the Cecil family, so he was certainly an advisor
0:20:18 > 0:20:20and consultant to the Queen.
0:20:20 > 0:20:24It's lovely for me having so many of my predecessors around.
0:20:24 > 0:20:28They give me a sense of the extraordinary history of the place
0:20:28 > 0:20:32and my small role in it here, early in the 21st century.
0:20:34 > 0:20:37The ties between the monarchy and the Abbey went so deep
0:20:37 > 0:20:41that in 1560, Elizabeth I re-founded the Abbey
0:20:41 > 0:20:45as the Collegiate Church of St Peter and Royal Peculiar.
0:20:47 > 0:20:50It means in various ways that I'm not responsible
0:20:50 > 0:20:53to any bishop or archbishop, that's the first thing.
0:20:53 > 0:20:56Most parts of the Church of England
0:20:56 > 0:20:59owe their allegiance to their diocesan bishop
0:20:59 > 0:21:02and, through their diocesan bishop, to the archbishop.
0:21:02 > 0:21:06But the Abbey is a Royal Peculiar, and outside the diocesan structure.
0:21:06 > 0:21:08It's outside the provincial structure
0:21:08 > 0:21:10of bishops and archbishops.
0:21:10 > 0:21:16Essentially, I'm the spiritual and moral leader of the Abbey community,
0:21:16 > 0:21:19and answer to the Queen.
0:21:20 > 0:21:24Five centuries after Elizabeth I granted this unusual status,
0:21:24 > 0:21:29there's some unfinished business between the Abbey and the Crown.
0:21:29 > 0:21:33These are the statutes which have just been given
0:21:33 > 0:21:35to the Dean and Chapter by the Queen.
0:21:35 > 0:21:39They, are as it were, the bylaws or the constitution
0:21:39 > 0:21:43by which the Abbey is to be governed. And the reason
0:21:43 > 0:21:48that we've been given them now is that when Queen Elizabeth I
0:21:48 > 0:21:51established the Abbey as a Collegiate Church in 1560,
0:21:51 > 0:21:53she did that by producing a charter
0:21:53 > 0:21:56which laid out the type of foundation
0:21:56 > 0:21:58that she wanted there to be here.
0:21:58 > 0:22:01That charter said that there would be statutes
0:22:01 > 0:22:05which would lay out in more detail how the Abbey was to be governed.
0:22:05 > 0:22:09Those statutes were drafted, but were never signed by Elizabeth I.
0:22:09 > 0:22:13And so they've never actually had legal validity.
0:22:13 > 0:22:17This has been an issue for the Abbey over the centuries
0:22:17 > 0:22:21from time to time, and finally, at the beginning of the 21st century,
0:22:21 > 0:22:24we have had statutes presented by the monarch.
0:22:24 > 0:22:29At the bottom there's this huge great seal, which represents
0:22:29 > 0:22:32the Queen's signature, which gives them the authority
0:22:32 > 0:22:35and means that they are legal and valid statutes.
0:22:36 > 0:22:40This document is the latest addition to the Abbey's archives,
0:22:40 > 0:22:44which date back to the founding of the monastery here by St Dunstan
0:22:44 > 0:22:47over 1,000 years ago.
0:22:47 > 0:22:49This is an example of one of our earliest charters.
0:22:49 > 0:22:54It dates from...around 962.
0:22:54 > 0:22:56It's a grant from King Edgar,
0:22:56 > 0:22:59who's named here, giving land to the monastery
0:22:59 > 0:23:01in the very early days of its foundation.
0:23:01 > 0:23:04And among the witnesses who've signed at the bottom
0:23:04 > 0:23:06is Dunstan, Archbishop of Canterbury.
0:23:06 > 0:23:08So we have this extraordinary range of documents
0:23:08 > 0:23:13from over 1,000 years ago, right up to the present day.
0:23:14 > 0:23:19# Quoniam si voluisses sacrificium... #
0:23:19 > 0:23:23OK, just, "Voluisses sacrificium."
0:23:23 > 0:23:25So it comes away from the accent and back to the next one.
0:23:25 > 0:23:29'Tomorrow's Ash Wednesday and that means that, as part of the Mass,'
0:23:29 > 0:23:31when the congregation are ashed,
0:23:31 > 0:23:35when they receive a cross of ashes on their head,
0:23:35 > 0:23:38we sing the Miserere by Allegri.
0:23:39 > 0:23:42It's been sung for generations in the Vatican.
0:23:42 > 0:23:45It used to be a secret piece nobody was allowed to transcribe.
0:23:45 > 0:23:50But modern editions have been made in the last half a century.
0:23:50 > 0:23:53It's become a real sort of contemporary classic.
0:23:55 > 0:23:59No doubt because it has this very distinctive high C,
0:23:59 > 0:24:02sung by a solo treble, over and over again,
0:24:02 > 0:24:04several times in the course of the piece.
0:24:04 > 0:24:08So that, inevitably, becomes a focus, for the boys especially,
0:24:08 > 0:24:11because it's very exciting for them. I try to downplay that,
0:24:11 > 0:24:14but it's really impossible to repress that.
0:24:14 > 0:24:20Every week there's about three solos that come up in canticles.
0:24:20 > 0:24:24But the Allegri solo is quite special
0:24:24 > 0:24:28so that's the tough competition between all of us.
0:24:29 > 0:24:32The choristers perform with 12 professional singers,
0:24:32 > 0:24:34called Lay Vicars.
0:24:34 > 0:24:37Every year, on Ash Wednesday, two men and two boys are chosen
0:24:37 > 0:24:41to sing in a quartet in the musical centrepiece of the service.
0:24:41 > 0:24:45To decide who will get the coveted high solo part,
0:24:45 > 0:24:47the music staff have to run a selection process.
0:24:47 > 0:24:50Let's have a look at page four. Amplius.
0:24:53 > 0:24:57OK, let's hear Andrew on the top line
0:24:57 > 0:25:00and Matthew on the second line down for this.
0:25:00 > 0:25:02Here we go.
0:25:02 > 0:25:06# Amplius lava me
0:25:06 > 0:25:22# Ab iniquitate mea... #
0:25:22 > 0:25:25I think the difficulty with singing this piece in this competition
0:25:25 > 0:25:27is that every year we do this piece and so it gets...
0:25:27 > 0:25:29You try and improve from the year before
0:25:29 > 0:25:32and this year I think we're trying to do better than we did last year.
0:25:32 > 0:25:35Last year we tried to do it better than the year before.
0:25:35 > 0:25:40If you want to be doing the Allegri, you need confidence...
0:25:40 > 0:25:42- And a high voice. - And a high voice, yes.
0:25:42 > 0:25:45I'm hoping to get the solo,
0:25:45 > 0:25:48to be the top part. It's quite high.
0:25:48 > 0:25:50I am hoping I'm going to get it.
0:25:50 > 0:25:53Well, I'm in contention with Matthew, so...
0:25:53 > 0:25:55So it's really up to the choirmaster.
0:25:55 > 0:25:59# Et a peccato meo... #
0:25:59 > 0:26:03# Et a peccato meo... # Just let it flow on there, please.
0:26:03 > 0:26:05And...
0:26:05 > 0:26:14# Et a peccato meo... #
0:26:14 > 0:26:16No, that's not coming out, is it?
0:26:16 > 0:26:17'Andrew is terribly keen to do it,'
0:26:17 > 0:26:22and he's so keen that when we've run through it in the rehearsals,
0:26:22 > 0:26:25he's doing something -
0:26:25 > 0:26:27I think what he's doing is just stopping the air flowing
0:26:27 > 0:26:31through his voice, and so the notes don't come out,
0:26:31 > 0:26:33and that becomes a vicious cycle for a singer.
0:26:33 > 0:26:38If they stop the air flowing and the voice stutters a bit,
0:26:38 > 0:26:42then a boy, who is not as experienced as an adult singer
0:26:42 > 0:26:46at countering this, will tend to tense up even more
0:26:46 > 0:26:48and that stops the air flowing even more.
0:26:48 > 0:26:49It becomes even more of a problem.
0:26:49 > 0:26:53Now, I'd like to hear Bede and Luciano, please.
0:26:53 > 0:26:54And...
0:26:54 > 0:26:56THEY SING
0:27:14 > 0:27:17- Fine. So, Bede, you were late going up to the C as well.- Ah.
0:27:17 > 0:27:21A little more counting is needed in your case, but it's very good.
0:27:21 > 0:27:26I think... Let's send off, then, Andrew and Ben and Bede,
0:27:26 > 0:27:31and Hugh and Matthew and Luciano,
0:27:31 > 0:27:34off to rehearse with Mr Ford.
0:27:34 > 0:27:39We're going next to door to rehearse more of the Allegri solo,
0:27:39 > 0:27:42where a few boys try out,
0:27:42 > 0:27:45and then we all learn the solo and whoever sounds the best
0:27:45 > 0:27:48we choose for the solo.
0:27:48 > 0:27:50Let's try everybody just so we get a sense of the words,
0:27:50 > 0:27:52and then we'll split you up in a minute.
0:27:54 > 0:27:56Once they've mastered the Latin words,
0:27:56 > 0:28:00the boys are divided into pairs to sing the high and low solo lines.
0:28:00 > 0:28:03THEY SING
0:28:13 > 0:28:16Make sure you're lifting a little bit more on those dotted notes, in...
0:28:16 > 0:28:19What bar is it? The fourth bar, top of that line. More lifting there.
0:28:19 > 0:28:22If you're going to be up in the organ loft, to make it clear downstairs,
0:28:22 > 0:28:25we need to overemphasise things, so more lifting there. Just once more.
0:28:27 > 0:28:32'It's just mainly the high part getting that top C. If you're...'
0:28:32 > 0:28:36older than the younger boys, it's going to be harder for you
0:28:36 > 0:28:38because your voice is nearer to the breaking point.
0:28:38 > 0:28:43'You need to be aware that you're not locking your jaw,'
0:28:43 > 0:28:46because sometimes if you get nervous, you lock your jaw
0:28:46 > 0:28:48and the sound gets sort of jammed inside your throat
0:28:48 > 0:28:54and then it comes out as a feeble sort of moan-noise.
0:28:54 > 0:28:57The first thing I'm going to do now is talk to Martin, my colleague
0:28:57 > 0:29:01who took the various candidates out, and see what he thinks,
0:29:01 > 0:29:04because he will have heard them closely,
0:29:04 > 0:29:06and he'll have a recommendation or two, I imagine.
0:29:09 > 0:29:13Ash Wednesday marks the start of Lent -
0:29:13 > 0:29:15a time for reflection and self-denial
0:29:15 > 0:29:17in the build-up to Easter. Traditionally,
0:29:17 > 0:29:21churches reflect the sombre mood of the season
0:29:21 > 0:29:24and in the Abbey, the vergers - lay employees - are busy
0:29:24 > 0:29:26making changes to its appearance.
0:29:26 > 0:29:30'The practice is that we cover all the gold
0:29:30 > 0:29:32'and all the elaborate things.
0:29:32 > 0:29:35'Here at Westminster, all we do is cover up the Last Supper scene'
0:29:35 > 0:29:38on the main screen, and we put another section at the top.
0:29:38 > 0:29:43Ben, can you just go to your right?
0:29:43 > 0:29:46Yes, please. Yes.
0:29:46 > 0:29:47Keep going.
0:29:47 > 0:29:50- Does that look all right? - Yes, that's great.
0:29:50 > 0:29:54'We only get to really be up here on the day before Ash Wednesday.
0:29:54 > 0:29:56'It's quite a privilege to get this fantastic view'
0:29:56 > 0:30:00which not many people get of the Abbey.
0:30:00 > 0:30:03'It's all part of the cycle of our worship'
0:30:03 > 0:30:07and the Church year, and today's involved not only the high altar,
0:30:07 > 0:30:10but all the altars - you can see the shrine altar from here.
0:30:10 > 0:30:12That's lost its colour,
0:30:12 > 0:30:15and the same for all the other altars in the Abbey.
0:30:15 > 0:30:18There's no colour - they're reminders of Christ's crucifixion,
0:30:18 > 0:30:21the implements used at his crucifixion - the spear, the sponge,
0:30:21 > 0:30:25and again it's a reminder of, as Ian said, how solemn a time it is.
0:30:25 > 0:30:28The cross has to go behind the hanging.
0:30:28 > 0:30:30Ow!
0:30:30 > 0:30:32One of the reasons why you have to do it at night
0:30:32 > 0:30:34is it's not very dignified
0:30:34 > 0:30:37when you see people having to climb over the altar.
0:30:39 > 0:30:42It's all a stage, life is all a stage.
0:30:53 > 0:30:55The choristers' religious education
0:30:55 > 0:30:58is overseen by Minor Canon Michael Macey.
0:30:58 > 0:31:01Today he's explaining the significance of Ash Wednesday.
0:31:01 > 0:31:06I'm hoping you boys will never sit in a pile of ash...
0:31:07 > 0:31:09..especially not in your school uniform!
0:31:09 > 0:31:12But if you do, you'll discover how uncomfortable it is
0:31:12 > 0:31:15cos it gets EVERYWHERE and it upsets you.
0:31:15 > 0:31:20And that's the purpose, of the ashes on Ash Wednesday, to upset us.
0:31:20 > 0:31:24We're trying to remind you, when the ashes go on your forehead,
0:31:24 > 0:31:28of your baptismal promise to turn away from sin and to turn to Christ.
0:31:28 > 0:31:30Let us pray.
0:31:30 > 0:31:34ALL: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
0:31:34 > 0:31:39Thy will be done on Earth as it is in heaven...
0:31:42 > 0:31:45At Song School, the process of choosing the soloists
0:31:45 > 0:31:48for today's service continues.
0:31:48 > 0:31:52Gradually they cut away boys,
0:31:52 > 0:31:56so, like, today myself and Bede didn't get the solo
0:31:56 > 0:31:59but then only two boys can get it.
0:31:59 > 0:32:02But, still, I'm sure it'll sound brilliant.
0:32:02 > 0:32:05I can see you've got your hands here but I can't see any movement,
0:32:05 > 0:32:07which is fine for this part of the phrase
0:32:07 > 0:32:10but when you get to the next one you're going to be a bit stuck.
0:32:10 > 0:32:12Make sure there's a physical movement,
0:32:12 > 0:32:13you can feel it going in all the time.
0:32:13 > 0:32:15So right from the start of the phrase,
0:32:15 > 0:32:17soon as you take that breath and in all the way.
0:32:17 > 0:32:20OK, let's move onto the next bit, so next line down.
0:32:22 > 0:32:26MUSIC: "Miserere mei, Deus" By Gregorio Allegri
0:32:28 > 0:32:33'For that high line we'll have either Andrew or Ben.
0:32:33 > 0:32:36'They're both natural performers,
0:32:36 > 0:32:40'they both enjoy the feeling of singing on their own.'
0:32:40 > 0:32:44We often find that boys really want to do solos,
0:32:44 > 0:32:46or verses as they're often called.
0:32:46 > 0:32:49But when it actually comes to it, they freeze a bit
0:32:49 > 0:32:52because they're not used to that sort of exposure.
0:32:52 > 0:32:55But then there are others, and Andrew and Ben are among them,
0:32:55 > 0:32:58who really thrive, I think, on doing things on their own.
0:32:58 > 0:33:00It's getting quite close to the service.
0:33:00 > 0:33:01We've whittled down the number of boys
0:33:01 > 0:33:03who might be singing the solo this afternoon,
0:33:03 > 0:33:05which is partially for their own sanity,
0:33:05 > 0:33:07so they're not worrying about it all day at school.
0:33:07 > 0:33:09They're not sure who's going to be singing it.
0:33:11 > 0:33:16The congregation begins to arrive for the Ash Wednesday service,
0:33:16 > 0:33:19and the lay vicars join the boys for a run-through.
0:33:19 > 0:33:23At the last minute, Robert Quinney can finally announce
0:33:23 > 0:33:25who has got the solo parts.
0:33:26 > 0:33:29'Ben will sing the top part and Matthew will sing the part below.
0:33:29 > 0:33:34'They're both very reliable singers and they perform well,
0:33:34 > 0:33:37'and Ben clearly wants to do it.'
0:33:37 > 0:33:41Martin felt that those two were certainly the top people.
0:33:42 > 0:33:45To achieve the maximum acoustic effect,
0:33:45 > 0:33:49Ben and Matthew will sing with the adult soloists in the organ loft,
0:33:49 > 0:33:52high above the congregation.
0:33:52 > 0:33:55'The good thing about doing it then, it's at the beginning of a rehearsal
0:33:55 > 0:33:59'so I can simply send them off and get on with some other music.'
0:33:59 > 0:34:01So there'll be no kind of reaction from the other boys.
0:34:01 > 0:34:03They'll just have to sort of get on with their work.
0:34:03 > 0:34:05So if any of them are disappointed,
0:34:05 > 0:34:07they're professional enough to understand
0:34:07 > 0:34:10that we simply have to choose the person who'll do it best.
0:34:13 > 0:34:14'Everyone likes doing solos,
0:34:14 > 0:34:18'but the main thing is, because we're a choir,
0:34:18 > 0:34:22'we sing together and we're sort of one big team.'
0:34:22 > 0:34:24'Because it's such a small community,
0:34:24 > 0:34:27'you almost don't want to push your best friend out of the limelight,
0:34:27 > 0:34:30'you just accept that it's going to be you next time, hopefully,
0:34:30 > 0:34:32'or you'll get another chance.
0:34:32 > 0:34:35'It's not the end of the world if you don't get that particular solo.'
0:34:35 > 0:34:39MUSIC: "Miserere mei, Deus" By Gregorio Allegri
0:35:17 > 0:35:19'They did well. They seem to be pleased with it.'
0:35:19 > 0:35:22If they're pleased with it then there's no point my saying,
0:35:22 > 0:35:25"Didn't you think the tuning was a bit off on occasional notes?"
0:35:25 > 0:35:27because they have a sense of achievement
0:35:27 > 0:35:30and they did achieve something quite considerable.
0:35:30 > 0:35:32They stood up and did it in a confident way
0:35:32 > 0:35:33and under a lot of pressure.
0:35:33 > 0:35:35And not just the normal amount of pressure
0:35:35 > 0:35:37but with cameras rolling as well,
0:35:37 > 0:35:39which does add an extra frisson to things.
0:35:53 > 0:35:58'What motivates me to be here is to write services
0:35:58 > 0:36:00'so that people can engage with God.
0:36:00 > 0:36:06'That's the purpose of any priest and that's what I love doing.
0:36:06 > 0:36:09'I'm very lucky that I have fabulous resources.'
0:36:09 > 0:36:11Got a great building - people want to come here -
0:36:11 > 0:36:14and we've got a fabulous choir, great organists
0:36:14 > 0:36:19and organ. So I've got good raw materials to work with.
0:36:21 > 0:36:24Michael Macey is in charge of planning services at the Abbey.
0:36:24 > 0:36:27He masterminded the details of the service
0:36:27 > 0:36:31for Prince William's marriage to Catherine Middleton.
0:36:32 > 0:36:35The Dean, he's in charge of all at worship
0:36:35 > 0:36:38but he's busy with other things so he devolves responsibility to us
0:36:38 > 0:36:42and we therefore write the services, choreograph them,
0:36:42 > 0:36:43and make sure they happen.
0:36:43 > 0:36:46Make sure that all the clergy are told what to do
0:36:46 > 0:36:49and where to go, and make sure the services happen.
0:36:49 > 0:36:53Our next big service is the Commonwealth Day Observance,
0:36:53 > 0:36:55on 12 March.
0:36:55 > 0:37:01And that service, the Queen will be in attendance, as is custom
0:37:01 > 0:37:03and...it's a big service
0:37:03 > 0:37:07where all the Commonwealth nations are represented.
0:37:07 > 0:37:10It's a celebration of the Commonwealth.
0:37:10 > 0:37:12We're quite far advanced in the service.
0:37:12 > 0:37:18We've got the structure, we've got all the participants in line,
0:37:18 > 0:37:23so we know we've got Rufus Wainwright and Hugh Masekela.
0:37:23 > 0:37:25Rabbi Alan, how are you this morning? It's Non here.
0:37:25 > 0:37:28'One of the main things I've got to do today
0:37:28 > 0:37:31'is to follow up on the letters that I've sent out
0:37:31 > 0:37:33'inviting the faith leaders.'
0:37:33 > 0:37:37Those letters went out earlier this week and, for the first time ever,
0:37:37 > 0:37:40we're having not only them join us for the service
0:37:40 > 0:37:44but we're going to have a very informal lunch beforehand
0:37:44 > 0:37:46because it's a... It's a unique moment
0:37:46 > 0:37:51to gather a number of faith leaders together
0:37:51 > 0:37:53to discuss matters that may be pertinent to them.
0:37:53 > 0:37:57So, today I'm going to be following up with some phone calls
0:37:57 > 0:38:01just to give further detail for those who may not have been invited before
0:38:01 > 0:38:04and also to check people's dietary requirements, to be honest with you,
0:38:04 > 0:38:09because, obviously, we want to ensure that everybody's very comfortable in being here
0:38:09 > 0:38:13and that what we're giving them to eat is appropriate for them.
0:38:16 > 0:38:20We've got the royal family coming, I believe the Queen.
0:38:20 > 0:38:25Beforehand we go round aiding the police,
0:38:25 > 0:38:29searching for anything that may pose a threat.
0:38:29 > 0:38:32Oh, well, they can come, they can stagger down
0:38:32 > 0:38:36so that you've got the contrast of colour, then.
0:38:36 > 0:38:38#..the fourth, the fifth
0:38:38 > 0:38:40# The minor fall, the major lift
0:38:40 > 0:38:47# The baffled king composing Hallelujah... #
0:38:47 > 0:38:50To be able to sing in Westminster Abbey,
0:38:50 > 0:38:52solo, just me and the piano,
0:38:52 > 0:38:54following the Queen's message,
0:38:54 > 0:38:58it's a big moment for me, so I'm very honoured.
0:38:58 > 0:39:03Omar, four pieces of high staging, please, and four boards.
0:39:03 > 0:39:06I'm from South Africa, my name is Hugh Masekela,
0:39:06 > 0:39:07I don't know how I got invited!
0:39:07 > 0:39:12But we tried to do a solemn kind of song
0:39:12 > 0:39:16and they said no, they didn't want any solemnity
0:39:16 > 0:39:18so we had to come with something lively.
0:39:18 > 0:39:20There's a sing-a-long at the end.
0:39:20 > 0:39:26So we hope people at the end will, you know, repeat what I sing to them,
0:39:26 > 0:39:28and hopefully the Queen too.
0:39:28 > 0:39:30I think we're miles ahead of schedule...
0:39:30 > 0:39:33ORGAN BLARES
0:39:33 > 0:39:35Wasn't expecting that!
0:39:35 > 0:39:39I think we're ahead of schedule, but we'll wait and see.
0:39:39 > 0:39:41This is a really significant occasion.
0:39:41 > 0:39:43It is an interfaith occasion
0:39:43 > 0:39:47and it's an occasion at the heart of our national life, and of the Commonwealth.
0:39:47 > 0:39:49And it's one that brings us all together,
0:39:49 > 0:39:51and where we can recognise the reality
0:39:51 > 0:39:54and importance of God in our life.
0:39:55 > 0:40:00We feel very privileged that we are the catalyst
0:40:00 > 0:40:03of that gathering of communities.
0:40:03 > 0:40:07We're linking with peoples around the world.
0:40:07 > 0:40:10I mean, what can be more uplifting than that, really?
0:40:10 > 0:40:14And I think we all appreciate the fact that this is an opportunity
0:40:14 > 0:40:18to make those connections and pull people together as a family, really.
0:40:18 > 0:40:21As well as the faith leaders, the service is attended
0:40:21 > 0:40:24by Commonwealth High Commissioners
0:40:24 > 0:40:26and youth representatives from each country.
0:40:28 > 0:40:30'I actually feel quite honoured to be here,'
0:40:30 > 0:40:34among the 50-something countries, part of the Commonwealth.
0:40:34 > 0:40:37People are coming from far and wide
0:40:37 > 0:40:39This is such a historical place and to come here,
0:40:39 > 0:40:42and be part of such a historical event,
0:40:42 > 0:40:45and, also, it's, like, the Queen's Jubilee year,
0:40:45 > 0:40:49so it shows that people from religions, all different cultures,
0:40:49 > 0:40:52ethnicity, races can all come together as one nation.
0:40:52 > 0:40:54'It means a lot to be representing my country
0:40:54 > 0:40:58'because I actually am in London on a Commonwealth scholarship.'
0:40:58 > 0:41:00I'm benefiting from one of the opportunities
0:41:00 > 0:41:04that the Commonwealth gives to members of Commonwealth states.
0:41:04 > 0:41:06'Human progress, respect of human rights -
0:41:06 > 0:41:08'that actually drives us
0:41:08 > 0:41:09to come from all those different faiths.
0:41:09 > 0:41:12You know, to converge here in Westminster Abbey
0:41:12 > 0:41:17and I think it really gives a very powerful message of unity.
0:41:19 > 0:41:20As Head of the Commonwealth
0:41:20 > 0:41:23and Supreme Governor of the Church of England,
0:41:23 > 0:41:26the Queen attends two or three services a year here,
0:41:26 > 0:41:29and her former Lord Chamberlain is now an advisor to the Abbey
0:41:29 > 0:41:31on matters of national importance.
0:41:31 > 0:41:34'The Abbey, to the Queen, and to the royal family,'
0:41:34 > 0:41:35means an immense amount.
0:41:35 > 0:41:39Let's recall that her father, of course, was crowned here,
0:41:39 > 0:41:42her own coronation, her own marriage,
0:41:42 > 0:41:43and numerous other occasions.
0:41:43 > 0:41:45Whenever the Commonwealth comes up...
0:41:45 > 0:41:50the Queen almost lights up with interest.
0:41:50 > 0:41:52Virtually every time has attended that service,
0:41:52 > 0:41:55with the Duke of Edinburgh.
0:41:55 > 0:41:59I think that, without the role of the Queen over the last 60 years,
0:41:59 > 0:42:01I do sometimes wonder whether the Commonwealth
0:42:01 > 0:42:03would have held together at all.
0:42:03 > 0:42:06The Queen sort of somehow epitomises it.
0:42:06 > 0:42:08Brings it all together.
0:42:08 > 0:42:12And it's the Abbey that brings this about, and shows this,
0:42:12 > 0:42:14and demonstrates this in its annual service.
0:42:19 > 0:42:23'I'm sitting up here following with the Abbey's Twitter account.
0:42:23 > 0:42:26'Observing what's going on. I was here earlier taking pictures'
0:42:26 > 0:42:29of behind the scenes. That's generally how I use Twitter.
0:42:29 > 0:42:32I provide an insight, to the world, of what's going on,
0:42:32 > 0:42:36which is quite fitting for today's theme, which is connecting cultures.
0:42:36 > 0:42:39So I'm using technology in the way that it was designed to be,
0:42:39 > 0:42:42to connect people around the world to what's going on inside the Abbey.
0:42:42 > 0:42:44It's a real success for the Abbey -
0:42:44 > 0:42:47particularly because we launched the Twitter account on Commonwealth Day,
0:42:47 > 0:42:50in 2009, with great success.
0:42:50 > 0:42:53And so we're continuing to do that at special services when we can.
0:42:54 > 0:42:57SINGS IN HIS OWN LANGUAGE
0:43:18 > 0:43:21I know you can do that and join me and shout out to the world.
0:43:21 > 0:43:24# Come on sing, hey! #
0:43:24 > 0:43:26- ALL:- # Come on sing, hey! #
0:43:26 > 0:43:30# Come on... # HE SCREECHES
0:43:30 > 0:43:31LAUGHTER
0:43:33 > 0:43:34Beautiful.
0:43:36 > 0:43:38# Come on sing...
0:43:44 > 0:43:46# Home
0:43:48 > 0:43:52# Home
0:43:52 > 0:43:55# Whoa, yeah, yeah, yeah
0:43:55 > 0:43:58# Yeah! #
0:43:58 > 0:44:01APPLAUSE
0:44:04 > 0:44:08I am just going to check if any of the artistes are still up this end,
0:44:08 > 0:44:11which I think I can just see one, and say thank you,
0:44:11 > 0:44:14and try and clear people out the church so I can go home!
0:44:14 > 0:44:19Oh, today was such a beautiful day. Sunny and bright.
0:44:19 > 0:44:21Felt like being in Grenada!
0:44:23 > 0:44:24Take care.
0:44:24 > 0:44:27Sir! Thank you very much indeed!
0:44:27 > 0:44:28You too?
0:44:30 > 0:44:32'It went really well. It went really well.'
0:44:32 > 0:44:33Only slightly long.
0:44:33 > 0:44:37Maybe four minutes or five minutes longer than it should have been...
0:44:37 > 0:44:39but we try to be absolutely precise.
0:44:39 > 0:44:42I'm allowed to be annoyed with myself...
0:44:42 > 0:44:45but no-one else is!
0:44:45 > 0:44:47It's not quite over for me yet.
0:44:47 > 0:44:49It will be over once I've got a gin in my hand!
0:44:49 > 0:44:50Then it'll be over.
0:44:57 > 0:45:00For the choristers, services, concerts and state occasions
0:45:00 > 0:45:03are all in a day's work.
0:45:03 > 0:45:06Today, they're responding to a personal invitation
0:45:06 > 0:45:10from the Prime Minister that arrived out of the blue.
0:45:10 > 0:45:12Just make sure you can see me, or you won't be in the picture.
0:45:12 > 0:45:16'Well, we're in 10 Downing Street, surprisingly.
0:45:16 > 0:45:19'Last week we were invited to sing a few short pieces'
0:45:19 > 0:45:24for some annual faith gatherings in 10 Downing Street,
0:45:24 > 0:45:26by the Prime Minister's office.
0:45:26 > 0:45:29And, obviously, this is a wonderful thing to do
0:45:29 > 0:45:33and we're just going to sing two short pieces for the faith leaders.
0:45:33 > 0:45:35The Prime Minister will be present, then they will
0:45:35 > 0:45:37have a little tour of 10 Downing Street.
0:45:37 > 0:45:42Now they have drained the refreshment table of its contents, I need to...
0:45:42 > 0:45:45I need to sort of get them sorted out for their positions.
0:45:45 > 0:45:46That's what I'll do now.
0:45:46 > 0:45:49OK, boys, could you listen up, please?
0:45:49 > 0:45:51I need to tell you the layout of the room
0:45:51 > 0:45:53that we're going to be singing in.
0:45:53 > 0:45:56I feel quite surprised that the Prime Minister
0:45:56 > 0:45:59invited us to sing to the faith leaders
0:45:59 > 0:46:02because I thought the Prime Minister,
0:46:02 > 0:46:04he doesn't really have time to do this sort of thing,
0:46:04 > 0:46:05inviting choirs over to sing.
0:46:05 > 0:46:08Good morning, everybody. A very warm welcome
0:46:08 > 0:46:10to Number 10 Downing Street
0:46:10 > 0:46:13and particularly welcome is James O'Donnell
0:46:13 > 0:46:15and the choristers of Westminster Abbey,
0:46:15 > 0:46:17who are going to sing two pieces -
0:46:17 > 0:46:20one of which of I think is a world premiere.
0:46:20 > 0:46:21Over to you.
0:46:23 > 0:46:30# Ubi caritas et amor
0:46:30 > 0:46:32# Deus... #
0:46:32 > 0:46:35'We were told on Friday.'
0:46:35 > 0:46:38I never expected, I don't think any of us ever expected
0:46:38 > 0:46:40to be coming to 10 Downing Street.
0:46:40 > 0:46:42'It's just amazing.'
0:46:42 > 0:46:49# Deus ibi est
0:46:49 > 0:46:53# Congregavit
0:46:53 > 0:47:00# Congregavit nos in unum... #
0:47:00 > 0:47:03To be singing a solo in front of the Prime Minister, I felt...
0:47:03 > 0:47:07It was, I felt, actually, quite nervous about doing it.
0:47:07 > 0:47:10I mean, because there were lots of important people in that room
0:47:10 > 0:47:14and if I mucked it up I'd...get very embarrassed.
0:47:14 > 0:47:25# Amen. #
0:47:25 > 0:47:26APPLAUSE
0:47:31 > 0:47:35'The Prime Minister said that we sang very well
0:47:35 > 0:47:38'and he was actually quite pleased to see us there,
0:47:38 > 0:47:41'and it was an honour for us to be there with him.'
0:47:43 > 0:47:47'I thought Downing Street would be a bit boring, actually.
0:47:47 > 0:47:49'Just all politics and stuff.
0:47:49 > 0:47:53'But it's actually quite shocking how big'
0:47:53 > 0:47:55and how cool it is.
0:47:55 > 0:47:58There's always the chance that something will come along
0:47:58 > 0:48:00that we're not expecting and we have to be ready for that.
0:48:00 > 0:48:05Downing Street lunches, daily services and great state occasions
0:48:05 > 0:48:08are all part of the cycle of life at the Abbey.
0:48:08 > 0:48:14# Zadok the priest... #
0:48:14 > 0:48:17Next year, the nation will celebrate 60 years
0:48:17 > 0:48:19since the Queen's Coronation here,
0:48:19 > 0:48:24when she was anointed in a sacred ceremony to serve the people.
0:48:24 > 0:48:25To mark the occasion,
0:48:25 > 0:48:29the Abbey is planning to display the newly restored
0:48:29 > 0:48:32700-year-old Coronation Chair in a more prominent position.
0:48:34 > 0:48:37It was made by order of King Edward I in 1300,
0:48:37 > 0:48:41and has been used in coronation ceremonies ever since.
0:48:41 > 0:48:45This is one of the, I think, most pressing conservation challenges,
0:48:45 > 0:48:48that faces the new Surveyor of the Fabric,
0:48:48 > 0:48:53is how this fantastic Coronation Chair gets to be properly displayed.
0:48:53 > 0:48:58The Coronation Chair, historically, used to sit facing the altar,
0:48:58 > 0:49:02at the eastern end of the Abbey. It has been moved about.
0:49:02 > 0:49:07In the 19th century it was covered in glutinous brown varnish
0:49:07 > 0:49:10and, as you see, it's just been restored.
0:49:10 > 0:49:15All these incredible carvings have been scratched in
0:49:15 > 0:49:19by the students of Westminster School over the years,
0:49:19 > 0:49:21so graffiti's nothing new.
0:49:21 > 0:49:24There are still traces of incredible gold paint.
0:49:24 > 0:49:28Actually, it is a remarkable survival
0:49:28 > 0:49:31and you just think that the Queen was crowned here,
0:49:31 > 0:49:34anointed by the Archbishop of Canterbury,
0:49:34 > 0:49:36in the presence of God and her people,
0:49:36 > 0:49:40to serve the ruling of the country.
0:49:41 > 0:49:44It's incredible that it's here, really. All those...
0:49:44 > 0:49:47And Queen Victoria sitting there.
0:49:47 > 0:49:50And, I mean, I had my installation here
0:49:50 > 0:49:55and walking down the Quire to the Dean was terrifying enough -
0:49:55 > 0:50:01imagine coming down and being the King, organ playing.
0:50:01 > 0:50:02Quite frightening.
0:50:04 > 0:50:10Just...coming out of this wooden box.
0:50:10 > 0:50:13Unfortunately, anything you do in Westminster Abbey,
0:50:13 > 0:50:15there's never a clear wall,
0:50:15 > 0:50:18everything has got plastered with monuments.
0:50:18 > 0:50:21So if you were to move the Coronation Chair here,
0:50:21 > 0:50:25you might be tempted to move this monument to a different location
0:50:25 > 0:50:28so that the chair would sit against a screen wall.
0:50:28 > 0:50:31So one of the things we have got to do
0:50:31 > 0:50:34is to work out whether this monument can be moved.
0:50:34 > 0:50:38If it COULD be moved, then the chair would sit quite nicely here,
0:50:38 > 0:50:41looking out towards the nave.
0:50:41 > 0:50:45Another challenge is how to light it, because above us,
0:50:45 > 0:50:48on that window sill, there's an enormous great monument.
0:50:48 > 0:50:51So, yet another monument you have to negotiate around.
0:50:53 > 0:50:56The Abbey's conservation and building projects
0:50:56 > 0:50:59are always set against the cycle of Christian worship.
0:50:59 > 0:51:03It's Holy Week - the high point of the Church's year.
0:51:04 > 0:51:11This is one of great and beautiful treasures of the Abbey -
0:51:11 > 0:51:14this is the Litlington Missal,
0:51:14 > 0:51:17that was commissioned by Nicholas Litlington,
0:51:17 > 0:51:20who was one of the great 14th-century Abbots.
0:51:20 > 0:51:23And this is the most significant page of the book,
0:51:23 > 0:51:28and it tells the story at the heart of our faith, as Christians.
0:51:28 > 0:51:32The story of Holy Week and Easter.
0:51:32 > 0:51:34The big image, here, in the middle,
0:51:34 > 0:51:39is the image of Jesus on the Cross dying for our salvation.
0:51:39 > 0:51:46There are angels with chalices, cups, catching the blood from his wounds.
0:51:46 > 0:51:48And obviously that links directly
0:51:48 > 0:51:51to the idea of the Eucharist, the bread and wine,
0:51:51 > 0:51:53which become the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ
0:51:53 > 0:51:59and feed us, as Christians, and enable us to follow in his way.
0:51:59 > 0:52:04But just around the edge we have the story of Holy Week,
0:52:04 > 0:52:07starting on Maundy Thursday night.
0:52:07 > 0:52:10The arrest of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane,
0:52:10 > 0:52:13then when Jesus is scourged,
0:52:13 > 0:52:16then he's carrying his Cross,
0:52:16 > 0:52:19and now he's died on the Cross,
0:52:19 > 0:52:22then he's laid in the tomb.
0:52:22 > 0:52:24So, this is now Good Friday evening.
0:52:24 > 0:52:28Then Holy Saturday, which is important for us -
0:52:28 > 0:52:34it's a moment of waiting, as it were, between the death of Jesus
0:52:34 > 0:52:35and the glory of Easter -
0:52:35 > 0:52:38so, between Good Friday and Easter Day.
0:52:38 > 0:52:40And here finally this lovely image,
0:52:40 > 0:52:43this is the crucified body but now raised from the dead.
0:52:43 > 0:52:45So it's at the heart of our story.
0:52:46 > 0:52:49The festivities begin the night before Easter Sunday,
0:52:49 > 0:52:52with the Easter Vigil.
0:52:52 > 0:52:53The Easter Vigil is, I think,
0:52:53 > 0:52:57one of the most powerful, dramatic services of the year.
0:52:57 > 0:53:01Let's just go from the word "Gloria", please.
0:53:01 > 0:53:03'We celebrate the Resurrection with the Gloria, which we've not sung'
0:53:03 > 0:53:05for 40 days of Lent.
0:53:05 > 0:53:07Two, three, four.
0:53:07 > 0:53:10# Gloria
0:53:10 > 0:53:14# In excelsis deo... #
0:53:14 > 0:53:17We sing a Hallelujah, which we haven't sung during Lent.
0:53:17 > 0:53:19The word "hallelujah" is not sung during Lent.
0:53:19 > 0:53:22So, suddenly, all these things which were taken away from us,
0:53:22 > 0:53:24since Ash Wednesday, are put back
0:53:24 > 0:53:27in a dramatic and very conspicuous fashion.
0:53:27 > 0:53:29Three, four...
0:53:29 > 0:53:31For the Easter Vigil service,
0:53:31 > 0:53:34James O'Donnell has chosen a piece of music
0:53:34 > 0:53:37written for the Abbey by Jonathan Harvey.
0:53:37 > 0:53:40The Harvey is a very different piece to our repertoire
0:53:40 > 0:53:44because, unlike other pieces, there's talkative bits in it.
0:53:45 > 0:53:47Shout!
0:53:47 > 0:53:48THEY SPEAK
0:53:51 > 0:53:53The shouty bits are much better now.
0:53:53 > 0:53:55They should make people smile, I think.
0:53:55 > 0:53:58They should be kind of like an outburst of joy.
0:53:58 > 0:54:01'Musically, the great thing is to capture that drama'
0:54:01 > 0:54:05and capture that, that, that, that sort of...
0:54:06 > 0:54:10..enormously cosmic thing, the bursting of Christ from the tomb.
0:54:12 > 0:54:14'This is Holy Saturday.'
0:54:14 > 0:54:17We're preparing now for Easter Day.
0:54:17 > 0:54:19The flowers are there, beside the high altar.
0:54:19 > 0:54:24The Lenten array is coming down and the altar frontal will be going on,
0:54:24 > 0:54:27so we're getting ready for all the glory and joy of Easter.
0:54:27 > 0:54:31We're now fully dressing the altar because Easter Eve, dare I say,
0:54:31 > 0:54:33it's a bit like having a dinner party,
0:54:33 > 0:54:34you get all the best stuff out.
0:54:34 > 0:54:37We work on figures from last year.
0:54:37 > 0:54:41So last year we had about 400 communicants for the Easter Vigil,
0:54:41 > 0:54:44with probably a congregation of 600.
0:54:44 > 0:54:47So we work on those numbers and probably tweak it a bit.
0:54:47 > 0:54:50We haven't been caught out but we've become more aware
0:54:50 > 0:54:53that there's people that need gluten-free wafers.
0:54:53 > 0:54:56So the round ones are the normal, standard wholemeal
0:54:56 > 0:55:00but the little white square ones are actually gluten-free.
0:55:05 > 0:55:10The service begins with the lighting of a new fire
0:55:10 > 0:55:14and the lighting of a candle FROM the new fire.
0:55:14 > 0:55:19A candle that represents Christ shining again in the darkness,
0:55:19 > 0:55:23the risen Christ, and we begin with bells,
0:55:23 > 0:55:25and with the organ making a great sound
0:55:25 > 0:55:27just to say, you know, in sound,
0:55:27 > 0:55:31we have the celebration of Christ's resurrection.
0:55:31 > 0:55:34Hallelujah! Christ is risen.
0:55:34 > 0:55:38ALL: He is risen indeed. Hallelujah, Hallelujah.
0:55:38 > 0:55:42ORGAN PLAYS
0:56:14 > 0:56:17# Gloria!
0:56:17 > 0:56:21# In excelsis deo
0:56:21 > 0:56:26# Et in terra pax hominibus
0:56:26 > 0:56:29# Bonae voluntatis
0:56:29 > 0:56:31# Laudamus te
0:56:31 > 0:56:33# Benedicimus te
0:56:33 > 0:56:34# Adoramus te
0:56:34 > 0:56:37# Glorificamus te
0:56:37 > 0:56:39# Gratias agimus
0:56:39 > 0:56:42# Tibi propter...
0:56:43 > 0:56:47'As the piece was commissioned, actually, for Westminster Abbey,
0:56:47 > 0:56:50'the big sound is supposed to fill up the church'
0:56:50 > 0:56:52and bounce off the walls,
0:56:52 > 0:56:54so you can hear it right at the back of the church.
0:56:54 > 0:57:04# ..gloria Dei Patris
0:57:04 > 0:57:11# Amen. #
0:57:11 > 0:57:17Some are very small, and there are two large eggs.
0:57:17 > 0:57:20Sort of dodo size, I believe.
0:57:20 > 0:57:21Dodo?!
0:57:21 > 0:57:23THEY LAUGH AND CHATTER
0:57:23 > 0:57:27So...are we ready? On your marks...
0:57:28 > 0:57:29..get set, GO!
0:57:34 > 0:57:39'The end of an extraordinary sequence of Holy Week and Easter,
0:57:39 > 0:57:41'Maundy Thursday, Good Friday'
0:57:41 > 0:57:44then last night the wonderful Vigil Service
0:57:44 > 0:57:49and now the Abbey packed once again, vast crowds of people.
0:57:49 > 0:57:54It's amazing how many people want to come and celebrate the joy of Easter.
0:57:57 > 0:58:01Over the next few months, the cycle of life at the Abbey will continue,
0:58:01 > 0:58:03with a wedding of one of their own...
0:58:03 > 0:58:06When we had conversations with the Dean he said we would
0:58:06 > 0:58:08be very welcome to be married here.
0:58:08 > 0:58:10Butterflies are slightly swirling round my tummy.
0:58:10 > 0:58:13..auditions are being held for new choristers...
0:58:13 > 0:58:16There's a lot more to being in a choir like this than just singing.
0:58:16 > 0:58:20..and the Abbey receives a historic invitation from the Pope
0:58:20 > 0:58:21to sing in the Vatican.
0:58:21 > 0:58:24You're engaged in a mission of vastly greater importance
0:58:24 > 0:58:26than you can possibly imagine.
0:58:26 > 0:58:30The Pope inviting us, it's going to be amazing.
0:58:51 > 0:58:54Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd