Son Et Lumière in Chichester

On a swirly misty Autumn evening in 2008, Barbara and Rod visited Chichester to witness an outstanding event put on by the Cathedral to mark its 900th Anniversary. Beforehand, they attended Choral Evensong, with men’s voices contrapuntally and harmoniously weaving in a modern setting of the prayers, responses and psalms, and later to the performance. The event - Son et Lumière - entitled A Story set in Stone within the Nave of the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, was a complete sellout, and it was revealed that additional performances had to be staged.

Son et Lumière is a display, now with lasers, lights, surround-sound and animations, telling of a story. Barbara had seen such displays in Delhi, Athens and Winchester in the past, and this one, now with the new technology of laser lights she regarded as superb. A large screen to the east of the Nave was the focus of the main displays and told of the foundation and building of the structure, the struggles of the times and the influential figures who have contributed to its 900 year history. Multicoloured lights, smoke-making machines and visual imagery projected on screen and walls, contributed to the spectacle.

The text was written by Simon Brett and narrated by the well-known personalities Patricia Routledge and Michael Jayston. Other voices were contributed by June Whitfield, Nicholas Grace and Christopher Gee. The musical director was Chris Summerfield and the lasers, lights and sound were the projects of Patti de Vaux, Laser Dynamics.

The story included the lives of three influential bishops:

• Bishop Ralph de Luffa who supervised the construction of the Cathedral c1080AD. There had been previous remains nearby at Selsey but it was Luffa who obtained the finance and the craftsmen to build the essential structure. It is recorded that in 1114AD it caught fire and had to be rebuilt all over again.

• Bishop Richard of Wych, canonised as St Richard of Chichester. A most saintly man of the 13th century, who stood up to the opposition of King Henry III. St Richard is widely remembered as author of his prayer -

Thanks be to thee, my Lord Jesus Christ
For all the benefits thou has given me,For all the pain and insults thou hast borne for me.
O most merciful redeemer, friend and brother,
May we know thee more clearly,
Love thee more dearly,
And follow thee more nearly -
Day by Day.

And Rod, conscious of previous renderings, composed his own musical setting of this prayer.

• Bishop George Bell (1929-1958) who was revered and warmly remembered as a campaigner for Church unity, the promotion of the arts (some are extant within the Cathedral) and Christian Education. His ministry included the times of the Great Depression, the Second World War and its aftermath.

Altogether a wonderful experience and a marvellous way of presenting the Cathedral Story in its 900 years of history.

Rod Dawson