A TRADITION stretching back hundreds of years took place at Salisbury Cathedral earlier this month as promoted and new choristers were celebrated.

The ‘bumping ceremony’ originally saw new choristers have their head bumped gently on a stone in the South Quire Aisle of the Cathedral by the senior choristers whilst a welcome is chanted by the choir.

This ceremony took place so many times that the stone itself was rumoured to have been worn away due to the hundreds of heads that blessed it.

Nowadays, the stone has been replaced with a large prayer book which is gently bumped on the head with a large prayer book seven times by the senior choristers, whilst reciting a chant welcoming them.

This was the case during Evensong on September 13, as the cathedral promoted its senior chorister as well as admitting new choristers from probationer, trainee chorister, to full chorister.

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Senior choristers bump Arabella Luck into the choir Picture: Finnbarr Webster

Harriet Edney, Phoebe Geary, Alice Griffin, Carys Hooper, Matilda Macmillan and Daisy Mills were promoted to senior choristers for their final year in the girls’ choir, by The Very Reverend Nicholas Papadopulos, Dean of Salisbury, and Precentor Canon Anna Macham.

Probationers Arabella Luck and Phoebe Yuan-Richards were also admitted into the choir during the special Evensong service

Phoebe Yuan Richards is given her tabard by senior choristers Picture: Finnbarr Webster

And the celebrations continued last Saturday (September 20) as Vinnie Harris, George Johnson and Kieran Zhu were promoted to senior chorister in the boys’ choir, and Joseph Al Hashimi, Peter Hooper and Sebastian Jarvis were admitted into the choir as full choristers, joining older siblings Carys Hooper and Samuel Jarvis in the choirs.

David Halls, director of music at Salisbury Cathedral, said: “It is always a joy to celebrate the commitment of our senior choristers, as well as to recognise the hard work our probationers have put in as they progress to full chorister.

The congregation applauding the newly admitted choristers Picture: Max Willcock BNPS

“As our choristers grow and move on to secondary schools, we continue to seek out young talent to carry forward the choral tradition of Cathedral music, ensuring that this treasured legacy lives on with each new generation.”

Anyone who has a child who loves to sing is encouraged to book a place at Salisbury Cathedral’s free annual event Be a Chorister for a Day, where children in Years 2, 3 and 4 can experience what it is like to be a chorister, meet the current choristers and enjoy singing in a special Evensong service.

The Very Revd Nicholas Papadopulos and the Revd Anna Macham with Arabella Luck and Phoebe Yuan-Richards Picture: Finnbarr Webster

To register for the free event and begin a child’s musical journey, fill in the application form on salisburycathedral.org.uk or for more information, email Salisbury Cathedral’s Music Officer, Hester Greatrix – h.greatrix@salcath.co.uk

Senior Choristers kneel during the service after being presented their medals Picture: Max Willcock BNPS