Creating a service fit for a Queen

After the National Commemorative Ceremony for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Dean Beth Bretzlaff spoke with Crosstalk and shared a few glimpses of what it was like to bring the whole service together at Christ Church Cathedral. 

As might be expected with an elderly monarch, Dean Bretzlaff said that planning for such a ceremony had been in the works for about 10 years as a collaboration between the department of Canadian Heritage and Christ Church Cathedral. Nevertheless, the death of the Queen launched the partners into an intense time of working together. 

“It was an amazing team from Canadian Heritage,” said Bretzlaff, “and they just kind of seamlessly moved into the Cathedral, and we worked together. Every little bit was negotiated, from where people stood to where lights went, to who said what and all that kind of stuff. It was an amazing experience and great privilege to do it,” she said. “That’s our role as the cathedral in the nation’s capital, that’s what we do,” she said. A similar service was held in the cathedral for His Royal Highness Prince Philip just last year. 

“In my first two years as Dean, did I ever imagine doing those two services? No,” she said with a laugh. “But what a great way to get to know the diplomatic world. I met all kinds of people, and a great way to marshal the cathedral forces to serve our country. Just a fabulous experience, I was in my element, really.”

Many others were also in their element, it seems. “That was the cathedral choir. We didn’t bring any ringers,” said the Dean. “Our cathedral flower guild did the flowers. The cathedral servers were there obviously. The cathedral sidespeople were on duty that day. We had about 100 people involved.”

James Calkin, director of music added his reflection on the experience. “I was so very proud of the entire team which confidently represented our tradition of sacred music within the context of the National Commemorative Service: conductor and associate director of music Andrew McAnerney, newly appointed assistant organist Maria Gajraj, our lay clerks and, of course, our unique and cherished line of trebles. 

“Our designated elements (organ voluntaries, introit, hymns, psalm and motet) were carefully selected to lift up the works of Canadian composers (women and men), both official languages, and (not least) the transcending beauty of uniquely Anglican forms of sung worship. That we were able to step to the plate at this important moment and execute our role so professionally after two and a half years of pandemic disruptions and less than two weeks into a fresh season is a credit to the support for our Cathedral’s music ministry rendered by clergy leadership, parishioners and the wider community as well as the dedication and hard work of our musicians themselves.”