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  • Pope making first papal visit to Algeria to launch Africa trip and honor locally born St. Augustine

    Pope making first papal visit to Algeria to launch Africa trip and honor locally born St. Augustine

    VATICAN CITY (Rewritten Report) — History is being made this week as Pope Leo XIV, the first American-born pontiff in Catholic history, touches down in Algeria on Monday for the first-ever papal visit to the North African nation. The two-day stop kicks off an ambitious 11-day, four-country tour across Africa — a region increasingly recognized as the dynamic growing heart of the global Catholic Church — that will also take him to Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea.

    Upon arrival at Algiers’ international airport, Pope Leo was scheduled to be welcomed by Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, followed by an official meeting at the El Mouradia presidential palace. The first day of the itinerary includes an address to national authorities, a visit to Algiers’ iconic Great Mosque, an interfaith gathering at the landmark Our Lady of Africa basilica, and a solemn prayer vigil at a nearby monument honoring migrants who lost their lives in shipwrecks while attempting to cross the Mediterranean to Europe.

    The 19th-century Roman-Byzantine basilica, constructed during France’s colonial rule of Algeria, will host a unique interfaith gathering bringing together a Catholic nun, a Pentecostal worshiper, and a Muslim representative to share testimonies ahead of the pope’s remarks. The trip’s official motto, drawn from Pope Leo’s standard opening greeting for all his public engagements, is “Peace be with you,” and Vatican officials have confirmed that advancing interfaith harmony between Christians and Muslims and a global message of peace will serve as the visit’s core themes, particularly amid rising religious and geopolitical conflict around the world.

    Vatican statistics show Algeria is home to a tiny Catholic community of roughly 9,000 people, most of whom are foreign residents, living alongside a majority Sunni Muslim population of nearly 47 million. Remarkably, Algiers Archbishop Jean-Paul Vesco, a French cardinal, noted that nine out of 10 daily visitors to the Our Lady of Africa basilica are Muslim, a quiet demonstration of everyday coexistence in the country. “It’s wonderful to be able to show that we can be brothers and sisters together, building a society despite our different religions,” Vesco told the Associated Press on the eve of the pope’s arrival. “And that is what our church has been doing since this country gained independence.”

    Despite this grassroots harmony, the visit takes place against a backdrop of ongoing international scrutiny of religious freedom in Algeria. The U.S. government has included Algeria on its special watch list for severe religious freedom violations, noting that while the country’s constitution recognizes faiths other than Islam and permits private worship that adheres to public order regulations, proselytizing to Muslims by non-Muslims is a criminal offense, and multiple independent Christian denominations have faced government pressure including forced church closures. Some Algerian citizens have raised questions about the long-term impact of the papal visit on religious minorities: “I imagine it’s a good thing that a pope is visiting Algeria,” said Selma Dénane, a student in the coastal city of Annaba. “But what will it change afterward? Will Christians be able to say, ‘I am a Christian’ without fear or stigmatization?’”

    The trip also includes a powerful tribute to religious martyrs of Algeria’s brutal modern history. Three decades after winning independence from France, the country descended into a 1990s civil war known locally as the “black decade,” which killed an estimated 250,000 people as government forces battled an Islamist insurgency. Nineteen Catholics were among those killed, including seven Trappist monks from the Tibhirine monastery south of Algiers, who were kidnapped and murdered in 1996, as well as two nuns from Pope Leo’s own Augustinian religious order. On Monday, the pope will pay homage to the 19 martyrs, all of whom were beatified in 2018 in the first such ceremony ever held in the Muslim world. He will also meet with remaining Augustinian nuns who operate an interfaith social services program out of the Algiers basilica that supports people of all religious backgrounds.

    Archbishop Vesco pointed out a striking coincidence: Pope Leo was elected to the papacy on May 8, which is the Catholic feast day of these 19 Algerian martyrs. Vesco extended an invitation to visit immediately after Leo’s election, and the pope has long drawn inspiration from the community: he has adopted a phrase from Christian de Chergé, the martyred prior of the Tibhirine monastery, as a personal mantra — speaking of “unarmed and disarming peace” — and has cited the line repeatedly since the night of his election. “Obviously he will speak a lot about peace, it’s urgent and current,” Vesco said.

    Beyond its interfaith and pastoral goals, the Algeria visit is a deeply personal pilgrimage for Pope Leo, a lifelong member of the Augustinian order. The order draws its founding inspiration from St. Augustine of Hippo, the 5th-century theological and philosophical giant of the early Christian church, who was born in what is now Algeria and spent nearly all his life in the region. On Tuesday, the pope will travel to Annaba, the modern city built on the site of ancient Hippo where St. Augustine served as bishop for 30 years, to walk in the saint’s footsteps.

    From his first public address after his election, Pope Leo has introduced himself as a “son of St. Augustine,” and has referenced the early church father repeatedly in speeches, homilies, and official documents over his first year in office. Paul Camacho, associate director of the Augustinian Institute at Villanova University — Pope Leo’s Augustinian-run alma mater near Philadelphia — noted that references to St. Augustine are a consistent throughline in the pope’s teaching. “I don’t know if I have seen a statement, a homily, an apostolic letter or exhortation that doesn’t reference Augustine,” Camacho said. “The shadow that he casts on Western thought, not just the Roman Catholic Church but on Western thought more broadly, is very, very long indeed.”

    This reporting was compiled from original on-the-ground contributions by Ouali and Santalucia in Algiers, Algeria.

  • Intl forum discusses role of peony flowers in cultural exchange and mutual understanding

    Intl forum discusses role of peony flowers in cultural exchange and mutual understanding

    In the heart of China’s famed “Peony Capital” of Heze, Shandong province, global stakeholders from academia, government, and cultural institutions gathered on Saturday for the 2026 Heze Peony International Communication Forum, a landmark event designed to frame the iconic peony flower as a powerful cross-cultural bridge fostering global mutual understanding. Bringing together officials, scholars and industry specialists from nations including Russia and Italy, the forum builds on centuries of peony cultivation heritage in Heze to open new avenues for people-to-people connection across borders.

    This gathering marks a core component of the 2026 World Peony Conference, a 30-day global event that launched the previous day under the unifying theme “Blooming Across the World, Cultivating Shared Beauty”. The conference and accompanying forum shine a global spotlight on Heze’s unparalleled legacy as one of the world’s preeminent centers of peony cultivation: the region boasts more than 1,500 years of continuous peony growing history, with 1,308 officially registered varieties spanning nine distinct color groups and 10 unique flower forms. Beyond its cultural significance, Heze’s peony industry has grown into a major economic driver, with the total output value spanning from primary cultivation to high-value processed peony goods surpassing 13 billion yuan in 2025.

    The forum opened with a symbolic act of cross-cultural friendship, as Tatiana Bakurova, principal of Oryol State First High School in Russia, presented an original oil painting of peonies titled *Flower of Friendship* — a work created collectively by her school’s teachers and students. In return, the Publicity Department of Heze gifted the Russian delegation a traditional handcrafted peony paper-cut artwork, a tangible example of China’s intangible cultural heritage tied to the iconic bloom. This gift exchange set the collaborative tone for the day’s discussions.

    In his opening address, Zhang Lun, secretary of the Heze Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China, emphasized the universal appeal of floral aesthetics. “Flowers are an aesthetic language that transcends national borders,” Zhang noted. He called for coordinated collective action to advance two complementary goals: expanding global access to Heze’s peony varieties and cultural products, while welcoming international floral expertise and cultural exchange to Heze. This dual approach, Zhang argued, would inject fresh momentum into global efforts to build a harmonious shared global community rooted in mutual respect and understanding.

  • Longtime AP reporter and editor Bill Mann dies at 83

    Longtime AP reporter and editor Bill Mann dies at 83

    RESTON, Va. – Bill Mann, a journalist whose nearly 50-year career with The Associated Press took him across six continents to cover some of the world’s most high-profile and turbulent beats, passed away Thursday at a memory care facility in Reston, Virginia. He was 83 years old.

    A native of Georgia and graduate of the University of Georgia’s journalism program, where he met his wife Mimi of more than 60 years, Mann’s path to global reporting began with military service. After graduating college, he attended officer candidate school, commissioned as a U.S. Navy officer, and served four years of active duty at a Philippine base and the Pentagon. Following his discharge from the Navy, he launched his AP career in 1960 at the agency’s Louisville, Kentucky bureau, later moving to the New York headquarters and other domestic postings before accepting a 10-year appointment as AP’s Cairo bureau chief.

    Over his decades-long tenure, Mann built a reputation for sharp, meticulous reporting from some of the world’s most volatile regions, including the Philippines under authoritarian President Ferdinand Marcos, post-colonial India, Scandinavia, Washington D.C., and the Middle East. Even as a veteran correspondent who had covered conflict and crisis for decades, an early 1990s reporting trip to famine- and war-ravaged Somalia left such a deep emotional mark that Mann never spoke publicly about what he witnessed during the assignment, his daughter Samantha Rudolph recalled.

    Among the hundreds of prominent figures Mann interviewed over his career – including dozens of heads of state and global leaders – he often cited his 1960s encounter with a young Cassius Clay, the amateur boxer who would go on to become global heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali, as his absolute favorite and most memorable conversation. Outside of journalism and his family, Mann’s greatest passion was his alma mater’s athletics program; he was a lifelong, diehard fan of the Georgia Bulldogs, according to his family.

    Mann was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2010, and ultimately died from an unspecified virus while receiving care at the memory care facility, his wife confirmed. Even as his condition progressed, he never lost his lifelong love for the craft of journalism, Mimi Mann said.

    Colleagues and loved ones remembered Mann as a consummate newsroom professional whose commitment to precision and detail made his work a benchmark for AP reporting, while his gentle, generous nature set him apart as a mentor and leader. “Billy Mann was a wonderful representative for The Associated Press in global hot spots from the Philippines under President Ferdinand Marcos to the turbulent Middle East,” said Edith M. Lederer, longtime AP United Nations bureau chief. “He was well-liked for his warm personality and admired for his deft reporting.”

    Former AP editor Ken Guggenheim echoed that sentiment, noting that Mann’s legacy extended beyond his reporting to the example he set for younger journalists. “Billy was just the consummate AP man. He was just a stickler for details, determined that the grammar was right, the style was right and that the story would be perfect when it would hit the wire,” Guggenheim said. “Everyone loved Billy. He was someone who showed you could be a great journalist and a great person at the same time.”

    Mann is survived by his wife of 61 years, Mimi, his daughter Samantha, his son, and four grandchildren.

  • Guangzhou airport unveils replica of China’s first airplane

    Guangzhou airport unveils replica of China’s first airplane

    On Friday, Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, one of China’s busiest aviation hubs, held an unveiling ceremony for a full-scale replica of China’s first domestically built airplane at its Terminal 2. Named the “Wing Can”, this new installation honors the groundbreaking legacy of Feng Ru, a pioneering aviation engineer from Guangdong Province who designed and constructed the original aircraft in 1909.

    Feng Ru, who is widely recognized as the father of Chinese aviation, achieved the historic feat of building and flying China’s first powered airplane more than a century ago, laying the early ideological and technical groundwork for the country’s modern aviation industry. Born in 1884, Feng Ru passed away at a young age in 1912, but his contributions to Chinese aerospace innovation have never been forgotten.

    In an official statement released following the unveiling, airport officials framed the new replica as more than a historical monument. The installation is described as a lasting symbol of exploratory ambition, cross-continental connection, and forward momentum, carrying the auspicious cultural connotation of a nation reaching new heights and rising with opportunity. The statement added that the exhibit underscores the unwavering lofty aspirations and pioneering spirit of China’s broader aviation sector, which continues to pursue groundbreaking technological breakthroughs and chart new courses for global connectivity in the modern era. For passengers passing through one of China’s most central travel hubs, the replica offers a tangible connection to the 100-plus-year history of Chinese aviation innovation.

  • Doctoral defence in Tibetan Buddhism

    Doctoral defence in Tibetan Buddhism

    For practitioners of the Geluk school of Tibetan Buddhism, earning the tradition’s highest academic degree is no simple feat. It demands decades of dedicated, rigorous study of Buddhist scriptures, philosophy, and core doctrines, laying a deep foundational knowledge that candidates must draw on for their final, make-or-break evaluation.

    That final public test, known as the Geshe Lharampa defence, takes place at one of Tibetan Buddhism’s most sacred sites: Jokhang Temple in Lhasa, Xizang Autonomous Region. Unlike typical academic defences in secular higher education, this centuries-old ritual centres on structured, dynamic debate. Candidates must respond to probing, often challenging questions from senior monks and fellow scholar-practitioners, defending their interpretations of Buddhist teachings with sharp logical reasoning, quick critical thinking, and deep mastery of the tradition.

    This public event is far more than a degree requirement. It is a living showcase of the long-standing academic and spiritual traditions of Tibetan Buddhism, bringing together generations of practitioners to uphold centuries of knowledge transmission within the faith. Visible to onlookers, the passionate exchanges between debaters highlight the intellectual rigor that defines the path to earning the tradition’s highest honor, preserving a cultural and spiritual practice that has endured for hundreds of years.

  • Roadside shops showcase Shanghai’s vibrant street life

    Roadside shops showcase Shanghai’s vibrant street life

    Established as one of China’s leading English-language media outlets, China Daily holds full intellectual property rights over all content distributed through its official website, a position formally outlined in the site’s legal documentation. Dating back to 1994, China Daily Information Co (CDIC) retains exclusive ownership of every form of content hosted on the platform, ranging from written articles and photographic imagery to audio and video multimedia materials. Per the site’s terms of use, no party is permitted to republish or utilize any of this content in any format without first obtaining explicit written authorization from CDIC. Beyond intellectual property regulations, the platform also includes a technical recommendation for end users, suggesting that visitors access the site using a web browser configured to a screen resolution of 1024*768 or higher to ensure optimal browsing performance. Additional administrative records listed on the site include an online multimedia publishing license, issued under registration number 0108263, and a general operating registration number 130349. To increase transparency and accessibility for audiences and partners, the site also provides a dedicated menu of navigation links for core institutional information and outreach opportunities. These sections cover an institutional overview of China Daily, guidelines for brands and organizations interested in purchasing advertising space on the platform, contact information for general inquiries, current open employment positions, and dedicated resources for expatriate job seekers. Visitors are also invited to connect with China Daily’s social media channels to follow the outlet’s latest updates and engage with its content across digital platforms.

  • Global guests gather for crabapple poetry party in Beijing

    Global guests gather for crabapple poetry party in Beijing

    Against the soft backdrop of blooming crabapple blossoms at Beijing’s Former Residence of Soong Ching Ling — a historic site that has welcomed visiting international figures for decades — more than 200 guests from nearly 40 nations came together on April 4, 2026 to mark the arrival of spring and celebrate the shared art of poetry. Organized by the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation with backing from the municipal government of Xicheng District, the 2026 Crabapple Gala and Poetry Party centered on cross-cultural literary exchange, blending recitations and performances that bridge Eastern and Western artistic traditions.

    Among the standout participants was Michael Crook, chair of the International Committee for the Promotion of Chinese Industrial Cooperatives, who stepped to the stage to deliver a recitation of *Crabapple Nook*, a classic work by Song Dynasty poet Yang Wanli. Crook, who grew up in China and comes from a pioneering family — his mother was one of the earliest educators to develop modern English language teaching curricula across the country — explained his choice of poem, noting that Yang’s vivid lines perfectly capture the delicate grace of crabapple blossoms following recent rainfall that swept through Beijing. To highlight the shared poetic imagery that connects global literary traditions, he also performed a recitation of A. E. Housman’s beloved British poem *The Loveliest of Trees*, pointing out that Housman’s iconic metaphor of snow-dusted cherry blossoms mirrors thematic and imagery patterns found throughout centuries of Chinese poetry.

    Against the backdrop of 2026 being designated the Year of China-Africa People-to-People Exchanges, event organizers extended special invitations to African diplomats and cultural representatives to take part in the gathering. Attendees were treated to a diverse lineup of performances that wove together Chinese and African cultural influences, including traditional Chinese opera, West African drumming, and collaborative dance pieces. In a multilingual highlight of the event, Chinese actor Du Ninglin joined international performing artists to recite original and classic poetry in five different languages, underscoring the event’s mission of breaking down linguistic barriers through shared appreciation of the arts.

    Alhaji Sarjoh Bah, permanent representative of the African Union to China, summed up the spirit of the gathering, noting that “There is no better way of starting the spring in China.” For his part, when asked about his personal connection to crabapple trees beyond poetry, Crook laughed and shared a lighthearted personal note: “I really like my self-made crabapple sauce.”

    Held in the historic gardens where Soong Ching Ling once hosted global guests amid flowering crabapple canopies, the event went beyond a simple celebration of spring, serving as a living example of how cultural and literary exchange can foster connection between people from every corner of the world.

  • People enjoy Qingming Festival holiday across China

    People enjoy Qingming Festival holiday across China

    The digital platform operated by China Daily Information Co (CDIC) holds full intellectual property rights for all material published across its channels, a copyright protection framework that has been in place since 1994. This protection extends to every form of content hosted on the site, including written articles, photographic imagery, multimedia files and all other types of digital information.

    Under CDIC’s copyright terms, no party is permitted to republish or redistribute any content from the platform for any purpose without first obtaining explicit, written authorization from the organization. In addition to its copyright policies, the platform also includes a technical recommendation for end users: visitors are advised to use a browser set to a display resolution of 1024*768 or higher to ensure the best possible browsing experience.

    Alongside core operational documentation, the platform lists its official online multimedia publishing license number 0108263 and official registration number 130349. It also provides a clear navigation structure for site visitors looking to learn more about the organization, advertise on the platform, get in touch with the editorial and operations teams, explore open employment opportunities, or check open positions for expatriate workers, alongside links to follow the outlet across its social media channels.

  • Pope Leo calls for global leaders to choose peace in his first Easter Mass

    Pope Leo calls for global leaders to choose peace in his first Easter Mass

    On Easter Sunday, thousands of devout worshippers packed Vatican City’s St. Peter’s Square to witness a historic moment: the first ever Easter Mass and address delivered by Pope Leo XIV, the first pontiff born in the United States.

    Framed by elegant arrangements of white roses on the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, the new pontiff opened his message with a urgent plea directed at global power holders. Standing against a backdrop of vibrant spring decor—rows of sunny daffodils interspersed with thousands of purple, red, and white blooms arranged for the holiest day on the Christian liturgical calendar—Leo called for an end to the violence tearing through communities across the globe.

    “On this day of celebration, let us abandon every desire for conflict, domination and power, and implore the Lord to grant his peace to a world ravaged by wars,” he told the gathered crowd. Expanding on his critique of global inaction in the face of bloodshed, the pontiff highlighted a dangerous cultural shift taking root across the world: “We are growing accustomed to violence, resigning ourselves to it, and becoming indifferent, indifferent to the deaths of thousands of people.”

    He doubled down on his core appeal, stating clearly: “Let those who have weapons lay them down. Let those who have the power to unleash wars choose peace.” In a departure from recent papal tradition, Leo chose not to name specific nations or ongoing conflicts in his main Easter address, though his track record of public criticism makes his priorities clear: he has emerged as a prominent vocal opponent of the ongoing war between the United States and Iran, and has used every recent public platform to denounce global armed conflict and push for immediate de-escalation. Earlier this week, he made an uncommon direct appeal to U.S. President Donald Trump, urging him to pursue a diplomatic “off-ramp” to end the Iran conflict.

    Before closing his address, Leo paid respectful tribute to his predecessor, Pope Francis, who delivered his final Easter address exactly one year prior, only hours before his death. Drawing a connection between the core Easter narrative of Jesus Christ’s resurrection after crucifixion and modern calls for peace, Leo emphasized that Christ remained entirely nonviolent even in the face of unjust suffering.

    Following his address, the pontiff delivered the traditional “Urbi et Orbi” blessing—Latin for “to the city [of Rome] and the world”—to the crowd below, waving to thousands of gathered faithful before concluding the service. As Vatican bells rang out across the city-state and the assembled worshippers erupted in applause, Leo closed the event by offering Easter greetings in multiple languages, including Latin, Arabic, and Chinese.

    Consistent with his sustained push for peace advocacy, the pope also announced he would return to St. Peter’s Basilica on April 11 to lead a special prayer vigil dedicated to global peace. This public event marks the next step in a weeks-long campaign by Pope Leo to draw attention to the human cost of war: during Holy Week leading up to Easter, he delivered a series of addresses warning against growing public apathy toward suffering caused by armed conflict. During his sermon at the Easter Vigil held Saturday night, he urged Christian believers across the world not to grow numb to the scale of global violence, but to actively work toward reconciliation between divided groups.

  • English choirs seek to protect a musical tradition little changed since Queen Elizabeth I

    English choirs seek to protect a musical tradition little changed since Queen Elizabeth I

    On a muted overcast afternoon in the final days leading up to Easter 2026, a small group of schoolchildren wandered through the entrance of Rochester Cathedral’s auxiliary building, ready to step into one of Britain’s oldest unbroken cultural traditions. They set aside their everyday jackets and backpacks, slipping on the deep burgundy cassocks and crisp white surplices that have marked choristers for generations. Falling into orderly formation, they marched into the grand, vaulted main space of the cathedral, opened their mouths, and lifted their voices in unified song. What began as a casual gaggle of young students had transformed into a choir, carrying forward a choral music tradition of the Church of England that has remained largely unchanged for nearly 500 years.

    To Adrian Bawtree, Rochester Cathedral’s director of music, this centuries-old practice is more than just religious ceremony — it is a defining sound of the United Kingdom. “All of our cathedrals are beautiful, sacred spaces where you can come and just sit and be,” Bawtree explained, “and you can be immersed, bathed, nourished, sent out back into the world transformed by an experience in 30 minutes.”

    The beating heart of this tradition is Choral Evensong, an evening service of hymns, psalms, and quiet prayer first formalized in 1549 by Thomas Cranmer, the first Protestant Archbishop of the Church of England following the English Reformation. Unique to the tradition, the congregation takes on a quiet role, participating simply by listening to the choir’s performance. But for all its deep historical roots and cultural resonance, the beloved tradition now faces growing threats: shifting demands of modern life, plummeting church attendance across the country, and chronically tight budgets have made recruiting and training the next generation of choristers far more difficult than ever before.

    To reverse this decline, heritage advocates have launched a new campaign: they are pushing to have English choral services recognized as a critical part of British intangible cultural heritage under a United Nations protection program, a designation that would help secure support and funding for struggling choirs. This effort aligns with a broader UK government initiative to build a national inventory of at-risk cultural traditions — from Morris dancing to traditional dry stone wall craft — to preserve practices that strengthen community identity. The government notes that heritage tourism already generates billions of pounds in annual economic activity, making preservation a boon for both cultural identity and national prosperity.

    While most non-churchgoers are familiar with British choral music through the iconic performances of robed choristers at royal weddings and national Christmas carol services, daily Evensong services are held across the country in quiet, modest cathedral settings that rely entirely on local funding and community support. The Cathedral Music Trust, an organization founded in 1956 to halt the decline of church music after World War II, reports that most cathedral choirs are currently in a precarious financial position. Last year alone, the trust distributed £500,000 ($661,000) in grants to 28 cathedrals and churches across the UK to keep their choral programs running. Even with this support, the costs are substantial: Rochester Cathedral, a mid-sized provincial house of worship, spends roughly £250,000 ($330,000) annually on its choral program — a major expenditure that is smaller than what many larger cathedrals face.

    Trust leaders say UNESCO intangible cultural heritage recognition would draw much-needed public attention to the tradition and unlock new funding streams, beyond just supporting religious practice. The trust’s chief executive Jonathan Mayes notes that cathedral choral programs serve as a critical training ground for the next generation of professional musicians, both in religious and secular fields. “Whilst it happens every day, it is actually quite fragile,” Mayes said. “It takes an awful lot of work and it takes a lot of funding to actually make it happen, and that doesn’t come without effort.”

    Historians add that preserving Choral Evensong carries enormous historical significance beyond its musical and religious value, as the service played a pivotal role in shaping and spreading the modern English language. Diarmaid MacCulloch, emeritus professor of the history of the church at the University of Oxford and a leading expert on Christianity, explains that Evensong is rooted in Thomas Cranmer’s Book of Common Prayer, created after the Church of England split from Rome to replace Latin Catholic services with worship in the language of everyday English people. “It is very much a drama, and it is a drama which has been performed by the people of England from 1549 through to the present day,” MacCulloch said. “It’s far more a vehicle of public consciousness performance than any play of Shakespeare.” While the tradition has evolved modestly to include girls as well as boys in most choirs today, MacCulloch notes that the core service has remained remarkably consistent: “The service would be really quite recognizable to Queen Elizabeth I as much as Queen Elizabeth II, and that’s quite remarkable.”

    For Bawtree, the work of passing the tradition to a new generation is deeply personal. He first fell in love with church choral music at around 9 years old, when he first heard an organ paired with a live choir in a cathedral space. “When I heard it, it was like big octopus arms came and grabbed me and said, ‘You’ve got to be part of this,’” he recalled. Today, he oversees the Rochester program, training choristers ages 9 to 13 alongside an older youth choir, backed by a core of professional adult singers. Bawtree emphasizes that Evensong is open to anyone, regardless of religious belief, offering a rare space for quiet reflection and transformative connection in an increasingly chaotic modern world. “We talk in the world of mindfulness and the power of music to transform lives,” Bawtree said. “This is an extraordinary arena where that can happen. And because I had that experience, I would like to share that with future generations.”