7:04am Thursday 12th June 2008
By Phil Hill
SAINT Mary Magdalene Church, in Taunton, is gearing up for four bumper celebrations over four weeks.
The events will mark the 700th anniversary of the first vicar being ordained at St Mary's and the 500th anniversary of the completion of the stone church.
The part kicks off with a concert Saturday, June 21, when eight choirs of five voices will sing the rarely performed Spem in Alium Numquam Habui and the world premier of I Was Glad, written especially for the occasion by Tim Watts, composer in residence at Bedford School.
The current priest in charge, the Rev Rod Corke, will be installed as vicar by the Bishop of Taunton, the Rt Rev Peter Morris, at 10am on Sunday, July 6, with a jazz band Adam'#s Apple performing, followed by a barbeque in the vicarage garden.
The Magdalene Fair on Saturday, July 12 with have a historic taste, with Taunton Garrison re-enacting the siege of the town during the Civil War in 1645, when the Cavaliers chased the Puritans from a wooden hut in the garden to Taunton Castle. The sieges will take place at 11.30am and 2pm, with the fair running from 10am to 2.30pm.
A four-day flower festival, with around 50 displays, from Thursday, July 17 will pay tribute to 700 years of Christian worship and service in Taunton.
The Rev Corke said: "It's a humbling experience to be vicar at such a historic moment.
"Christian influence in the town throughout the years has been immense and what we're celebrating we're doing to God's glory."
*For more on the history of St Mary Magdalene, see this Thursday's Somerset County Gazette.
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