Toronto Star

Organists offer soundtrack to jabs at medieval cathedral

Elderly U.K. residents enjoy soothing music during vaccinatio­n

- DANICA KIRKA AND JO KEARNEY

SALISBURY, ENGLAND—David Halls isn’t a doctor, nurse or ambulance driver, but he wanted to contribute in the fight against COVID-19. So he did what he does best: He sat down on the bench beside at Salisbury Cathedral’s historic organ and began to play.

Halls is one of the many people who have turned the 800year-old cathedral in southweste­rn England into a mass vaccinatio­n centre as the U.K. races to inoculate 50 million people. His contributi­on to the effort is offering a bit of Bach, Handel and even a little Rodgers & Hammerstei­n to the public as they shuffle through the nave to get their shots.

“At times of crisis, people come together and want to listen to music; at moments of joy, people want to listen to music,” Halls, the cathedral’s music director, told The Associated Press. “And so I don’t think it’s any surprise the effect of soothing music on people who probably are feeling quite stressed for various reasons.”

Salisbury Cathedral, home to one of the best preserved copies of the Magna Carta and England’s tallest church spire, has been enlisted as a vaccinatio­n centre as the government expands its shot program to football stadiums, convention centres and hundreds of local doctors offices to speed delivery.

Hundreds of elderly residents have rolled up their sleeves and got their shots in the great nave, which is big enough to gather people together while also keeping them safely apart.

It’s in stark contrast to 1627, when church leaders locked the cathedral gates to keep townspeopl­e out as plague swept through Salisbury. Canon Nicholas Papadopulo­s, dean of the cathedral, says he reflected on that episode with “visceral discomfort” last year when he celebrated the building’s 800th anniversar­y.

Now, it’s time for a new chapter.

“If these stones could speak, they would talk about moments of incredible joy and moments of incredible sadness,” Halls said. “It feels thoroughly appropriat­e that the cathedral is playing its part in trying to turn things around and to be part of the vaccinatio­ns … To be part of that is such a privilege, such an honour.”

The effort at the cathedral is a community one, involving many. Organists took turns of two hours playing the massive “Father Willis” — making sure to sanitize in between.

John Challenger, 32, Salisbury’s assistant director of music, said many getting the shots are older people who are isolated and haven’t been able to hear live music for months.

In addition to playing soothing music, Challenger used his time at the organ to entertain and spark memories by playing songs like Mendelssoh­n’s “Wedding March.”

Among those listening Wednesday was Sylvia Parkin, 82, who came with her husband, David, 86. They have had to stay home a lot for the past 10 months, which has been no fun.

“It’s a trip out today, isn’t it?” she said cheerfully. “It’s a wonderful place to have an injection.”

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