On Sunday 12th October 2008, 38 nervous but excited children joined the choristers of St Martin’s Ampleforth Prep School to experience being a Chorister for a Day. The visiting children had travelled from York, Leeds, Middlesbrough and Harrogate to the beautiful setting of Gilling Castle. After a morning of rehearsals the ‘would be’ choristers were taken to Ampleforth Abbey to prepare for the Choral Evening Prayer service at 4.00 pm.

Just before the service there was a frantic half hour of trying on chorister cassocks and once everyone was dressed the choristers lined up ready for the procession into the Abbey church.

The singing of nearly 100 children sounded wonderful. The service included The Call by Ralph Vaughan Williams, two hymns, the Anthem ‘Let All the World’, Psalm 150 and Nunc Dimittis by Sir George Dyson.

‘Such a wonderful experience’ said one parent after the event. ‘My son is just bubbling with delight’ said another.