User:Kunlekoko/ Christ Church Cathedral Choir, Lagos

Christchurch Cathedral, Lagos also known as the Cathedral Church of Christ Marina, is the oldest Cathedral in the Church Of Nigeria Anglican Communion and also the seat of the Archbishop of the Ecclesiastical Province of Lagos.

Established in 1869, its current structure, was completed in 1946 and is the third church built to house its congregation. Designed by Architect Benjamin Bagandogi in Norman style architecture, the church, is home to the well renowned Cathedral Church of Christ Choir, Lagos, a choir of men and boys who lead worship services, delivering Traditional Anglican Cathedral Music and also offering concerts and live broadcasts on Radio during the course of the year.

History
Its founding, dates far back to 1853 when Christianity was newly brought in to West Africa. It started out at Oko faji Lagos, as a small church with its services being conducted in the indigenous Yoruba language for the sake of the natives who didn’t understand English language. As such, worship services as at then, excluded a few who didnt speak the native Yoruba language. As more of the liberated slaves who came in from Sierra Leone - the Creole people, with time, settled in Lagos, worship services in English were eventually introduced by the Bishop Ajayi Crowther for their convenience and in effect, two separate services were being conducted at that period - one in English and the another in Yoruba.

In 1860, the Yoruba speaking congregation moved to Ajele to establish the St Peters Church, while the English speaking congregation remained at Oko- faji and established Christchurch with services fully conducted in English. This eventually attracted not only the British colonial leaders but also freed slaves - the creole people and a host of other Western educated African elites and professionals who lived in Lagos at that time.



A huge increase in the size of its congregation created the need for a more suitable building for worship and also a school and this eventually led to its movement from Oko-faji to its present site on the Marina under the supervision of the Revd James Abner Lamb.

On the 29th day of March 1867 the foundations of a new Christ's Parish Church designed by Revd. James Abner Lamb were laid by His Excellency Sir John Hawley Glover, _Administrator of the Colony of Lagos and its Dependencies" as at then.

In 1921, Christchurch Lagos was raised to the status of a Pro-Cathedral and eventually to a fully fledged Cathedral in 1926, 59 years after it moved to its present site on the Marina.

Architecture and Art
Built in the popular perpendicular Gothic style architecture of most English cathedrals, Christchurch embodies many features that are highly typical of English cathedrals. Like most cathedrals, it has a transept crossing its nave, a central spire, a tower at its west-end, a Lady Chapel and a Chapterhouse built to match its design. To the north side of the cathedral is an entrance porch facing the Odunlami Street and to its West-end is the Lagos Lagoon.

Constructed between 1925 and 1946. Its current structure was built in three sections. The first section consisted of the quire, the alter, the Organ loft and the Lady Chapel. The second consisting the crossings under the spire, the West and north transepts and part of the nave and the third and last section consisting the the three aisles of the nave, the West- façade and the West-end Tower, which were dedicated on the May 1st 1946. Fully designed by an African, built by African workmen, Architect Benjamin Bagan's Neo-Gothic structure which took nearly 22 years to complete, had its foundations laid by HRH the Prince of Wales (who later became King Edward the VIII ) on the 21st day of April 1925 and the building was fully completed and consecrated on the 1st of May 1946 as a Cathedral. The Music



Stained glasses in the cathedral, feature old medieval paintings of selected biblical passages some of which are the works of Edward Burne-Jones and William Morris who both lived in the period between late 19th and the early 20th century and were notable artists of that period. Its wood carvings also feature some great works of art amongst which are the choir stalls, the reredos screens, the baptismal font, the children’s corner reredos and the high alter sculptured piece.









CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF CHRIST'S CHOIR, LAGOS  The musical tradition of the Cathedral Church of Christ Marina Lagos is one of its greatest glories and is something very special indeed, since it is so vibrant and it encompasses both the ancient and the modern methods. It is an important heritage and tradition, one which is admired from all over Nigeria and the world at large. The Cathedral Church of Christ's Choir Lagos is the very soul of what is known as the "Finest African Cathedral"’s Music. It is a devoted team whose utmost purpose is leading the congregation in the act of worship and this, they do through the art of MUSIC.

THE CATHEDRAL CHOIR …………… A Brief History Singing has always been an integral part of Christ Church’s worship since its inception in 1869. It is believed, in fact it is so recorded, that the first organist of Christ Church was Mr. R. A. Coker, who - at the beginning of his career, and just before his appointment as Organist, was sent to England to improve his knowledge of music in order to form a good choir suitable for Christ's Church and which would be able to sing in a manner worthy of being regarded as a model by the other churches. The initial Choir he started comprised of ladies and men. It was later re-organized during the ministry of Rev. Hamlyn in who withdrew the young ladies and replaced them with boys and young men. He provided them with surplices and erected choir stalls at the East-end of the Church and ever since, that tradition of singing has never left the cathedral till date. Today, the present Cathedral choir's, 21 boy choristers, together with the gentlemen of the choir who sing the alto, tenor and bass parts, continue this beautiful tradition of singing into the 21st century, providing music at the Cathedral’s worship services and many other special occasions throughout the year. They also reach a wider audience by singing in live broadcasts on radio during Easter and Christmas and also through their recordings. The basis of the choir's work is the regular singing of cathedral services, but there are other exciting activities, including Outings, picnics as well as frequent concert appearances in the cathedral.

REPETOIRE/ WORKS PERFORMED The Cathedral Church of Christ’s Choir Lagos is one of the most respected of its kind in Africa, and is particularly noted for its wide-ranging liturgical repertoire, which forms the backbone of weekly worship in the beautiful acoustics of the Cathedral. The repertoire of the choir, is not much different from that of any typical English Cathedral Choir in the UK- It primarily reflects the seasons of the liturgical year, with plainsong antiphons and office hymns, large festal anthems and more grandiose Eucharistic settings in English (such as Alan Wilson's Mass Of Light and Mozart's Mass In B flat) sitting alongside the daily music that riches and enhances the worship of all who visit the cathedral. Their repertoire is one, which encompasses a broad range of styles and compositions ranges from Plainchant to Classical, Negro Spirituals and to Present-day Contemporaries and even Nigerian indigenous music. The Choir has also incorporated the works of some Indigenous Nigerian composers many of which are home grown composers of the cathedral itself. Amongst such home-grown composers whose music still enriches their repertoire are the likes of T.K.E. Philips whose indigenous Sacred Yoruba Compositions are still heared often in the cathedral and also Fela Sowande who’s Responses in English are still sung regularly at Mattins & Evensong. And also some other home-grown composers like Ayo Bankole, Akin Euba and Samuel Akpabot. Some other composers that feature regularly on Christ Church's music lists include C.V Stanford, H. Howells, Bairstow, Charles Wood and John Rutter - which are some of the mainstays of choral repertoire throughout Europe.

RECORDINGS AND BROADCAST SERVICES Besides singing in the stalls of the cathedral, the Cathedral Choir also reaches a wider audience by featuring in Live broadcasts on radio during Easter and Christmas and also through their recordings.

THE CATHEDRAL MUSICIANS Since its inception in 1918 under the Dr T.K.E. Philips, and under successive Masters like C.O.O Philips and Fela Sowande, the Lagos Cathedral Choir has won an International reputation for its singing. In the year 1994, Mrs. Tolu Obajimi The present Master of the Music, took over the reigns and became the first female Organist and Master of the Choristers in the Cathedral. Ever since she became Master - at Lagos, the profile of the Cathedral's Music has been raised to new heights in so many ways.