Sir Roy Strong Donates New Black Vestments to Cathedral
November is the season for Remembrance and Sir Roy Strong, the renowned writer, gardener and historian, has donated a beautiful new set of black vestments to Hereford Cathedral to be worn at certain services. The new vestments were made by Croft Design from Much Wenlock and will be worn for the first time on All Souls Day, on 2 November, when we give thanks for our departed loved ones. The Cathedral has a special service of Remembrance on Wednesday 2 November at 5.30pm, when the cathedral choir will sing the beautiful Requiem composed by Gabriel Fauré and all are welcome to come along to hear their loved ones remembered and light a candle in their memory.
Sir Roy Strong and the Very Revd. Michael Tavinor in the new vestments
Sir Roy said “My wife, Julia Trevelyan Oman, died eight years on October 10th and this is always a difficult period of the year for me. I have noticed the growing popularity of the annual All Souls service when those who wish to give thanks and mourn for loved ones corporately gather together in remembrance and celebration”.
In welcoming this new gift, the Dean of Hereford, the Very Revd. Michael Tavinor commented: ‘Often these days, black is used less in services of remembrance as it is felt to be too solemn. Sometimes it’s more appropriate to use the colour white for such services, when there is an emphasis on the joy of resurrection, I think there is still very much a place for the reflection on our own mortality, which the colour black encourages.’
The vestments will also be used on Remembrance Sunday, 13 November for the 10.00am Requiem, when the music of Duruflé will be sung. Again, all are welcome.
More images can be seen here:
More photos of the new black vestments thanks to Croft Design