25th ANNIVERSARY EVENT - COVENTRY CATHEDRAL

To mark 25 years since the inception of The Pratt Green Trust a major event was held at Coventry Cathedral on Saturday 28th March 2009. A free invitation was offered to anyone interested and well over 500 people took the opportunity to learn about the Trust, extend their knowledge and enjoy singing hymns in wonderful surroundings. The day was called "PAST; PRESENT; AND FUTURE? Hymns and Songs in Christian Worship".

After coffee, the day began with a keynote address delivered by The Rt Revd Timothy Dudley Smith OBE who delivered a very balanced view of some of the challenges – both good and bad – faced by hymn singers and hymn writers in the 21 st century. In the afternoon participants had the opportunity to choose from a selection of group sessions led by Bernadette Farrell, Graham Kendrick, Andrew Pratt and Janet Wootton.

Always enthusiastic to sing, a number of people worked with Paul Leddington Wright (of BBC Songs of Praise fame) to prepare the closing Worship Celebration. This also featured the Saint Michael's Singers with Coventry Cathedral Brass.

There was plenty of congregational singing and the hymns selected were representative of those which have appeared in our hymn books over the last 25 years. These were put into a historical context as we started with the rousing 17 th century text Let all the world in every corner sing and listened to Henry Purcell's O God, thou art my God . Graham Kendrick led two hymns with his guitar. The music was recorded for a future broadcast on Radio 2's Sunday Half-Hour. The day was interesting, informative and fun – the perfect combination!