Report Bishop of Brechin Edward Luscombe welcomed about 350 people to the event, in both English and Hindi. The response, as coffee was served afterwards, ranged from "fantastic" and "magnificent" to "Have you ever clapped along to the music in church before?" Dean of the diocese and rector of St. Mary's, the Very Rev. Robert Breaden, closed the recital, thanking those involved. Guest soloist was Elizabeth Watson of Tayport and 16 year old organ scholar Simon Hewick accompanied the choir of St. Mary's. The other musicians and singers were from the Hindu Centre and Temple. It is expected that between £750 and £800 will have been raised from the evening and it will go to help Mandalapadu, a village devastated by fire and then monsoon in southern India.  When I was approached by the
Development Group to contribute to the fund raising
efforts of the congregation, there was some suggestion
that perhaps a coffee morning in the church hall could
be organised by the choir. "What!" said I, "And
raise perhaps £20 when Mandalapadu desperately needs
houses? No, I think that the choir will do what
it does best - sing!"
At that moment the idea of a recital flashed into my mind - an event which could maximize the funds we raised. I then thought that, since the event was to assist India, it would be an excellent idea to involve the Hindu community with which I had had considerable contact, with many friends in the Hindu Temple. I approached the Dean of the diocese with the idea thinking "Hindu music in a Christian church? Unheard of! The idea is bound to be politely rejected." Nevertheless, Robert Breaden - a progressive man in many ways, approved of the concept and so I put the machinery in motion to involve the Hindu Temple singers and have them draw up their programme which Mr. Gopal Krishnan rehearsed with diligence after every Sunday puja. At the start of the recital everyone was amazed when Bishop Luscombe started to address the audience in fluent Hindi - heads were raised in surprise and smiles radiated from the many Hindus present. Few knew that his Lordship had spent years in India and had taken the trouble to become a Hindi speaker. And so the performance went from strength to strength with a great performance from all involved - especially Simon Hewick, my organ scholar, who, at the age of 16, was giving his first public appearance and played like a veteran! The St. Mary's Choir had led the procession down the nave to the chancel at the start of the evening and at the close the order was reversed - the Hindu musicians and singers leading the the way down the centre aisle. And what colours were seen that evening, as each lady member of the Hindu Temple was dressed in a most glorious and voluminous sari. It is all now history and perhaps it WAS history as I think that this was the first such amalgamated performance by members of faiths from east and west to be held in Scotland. But more importantly, we did our job and when the funds raised were translated into Indian values perhaps it was the equivalent of over £11,000 - some purchasing power for a simple village in times of direst need! I wish Mandalapadu well as they progress in the new millennium. |