Behold the Lamb of God: Handel’s Messiah

Andrew Carwood

Saturday 3 December 10.30am – 5.00pm

Handel is the only composer ever to write a dramatic setting of the life of Christ. Written in just three weeks in 1741, his Messiah remains one of the best-loved and most frequently-performed of the great choral works.

Using an entirely scriptural text which he chose himself from the King James’ Bible, it quickly became a staple of the Church. Its appeal lies in the sheer beauty of the music and its capacity to involve us emotionally in the story of Christ, and also in its great message of hope. The first two parts tell the story of Jesus’ life from the prophecy of his birth to his sufferings, but the third section involves us, the listeners, directly in the life of the resurrection: it shows us the way to heaven.

In this reflective day, Andrew Carwood will explore how this great work illuminates the story of the life of Christ, and what it can offer us as a way to consider our own journey to salvation.

Andrew Carwood is the Director of Music at St Paul’s Cathedral, an internationally renowned singer and conductor, and the Founder-Director of the award-winning early music ensemble The Cardinall’s Musick.

Cost £40, bursaries available. The day includes reflective worship, lunch and other refreshments and takes place at St Katharine’s Foundation in Limehouse, East London (www.rfsk.org.uk).

Bursaries are available for those for whom the charge would make it difficult to attend: please contact us for details. We are very grateful to our partners at St Katharine’s for their generosity in co-hosting our reflective days.