On Sunday 12 May at 10.30am, Hereford Cathedral will be celebrating the Feast of Consecration with a special orchestral Eucharist.

The feast of consecration is the anniversary of the day many centuries ago on which the cathedral was consecrated by the bishop and set apart for worship. 

To mark this special occasion, the cathedral choir and accompanying orchestra will be performing Haydn’s Heiligmesse Hob. xxii:10. It was composed in 1796 in honour of St Bernard of Offida (1604–94), a Capuchin monk, who devoted his life to helping the poor and who was beatified in 1795 by Pope Pius VI. The Sanctus section of the mass is a setting of a then-popular Austrian tune to the German translation of ‘Sanctus’, Heilig, and the mass takes its popular German title, Heiligmesse, from this section.

The Revd Canon Andrew Piper, Precentor at Hereford Cathedral, says: “Each year the feast of consecration is an opportunity for us to reflect on and give thanks for the cathedral’s place in the life of the local community as a centre for Christian worship and mission. 

Whilst our cathedral is more than just stones and mortar, once a year we use this service to celebrate the building itself and to offer thanks to God for all that it means to us. On behalf of the Chapter I would also like to express our warmest thanks to our sponsors for their generosity and goodwill in enabling this service to take place.”

The Cathedral Eucharist celebrating the Feast of Consecration will take place on Sunday 12 May 2024 at 10.30am and everyone is welcome to join us. Please note that this service will not be livestreamed.