Lay Vicar Marks 40 Years at Lichfield Cathedral!
A tenor Lay Vicar, the senior member of the choir, who has performed thousands of times with Lichfield Cathedral Choir has recently celebrated the 40th anniversary of his appointment to the role.
After graduating from the University of Manchester and then Cambridge University with a degree in history, Michael Guest (63) went into teaching before he joined the cathedral as a Lay Vicar Choral on Thursday 2nd June, 1977, aged 23.
Four decades on, after more than 10,000 regular appearances as part of the cathedral choir at an average of six services per week, Michael is enjoying his job more than ever.
“I never imagined that I would still be here back when I started in 1977,” he says.
“I saw an advertisement in the Times Educational Supplement for a tenor and bass singer at the cathedral. As a lover of cathedral music, I knew this was what I wanted to do. 40 years later, the rest is history!"
“In addition to my role as a Senior Lay Vicar, I am also the Intimator (keeping account of absences and attendances) for the cathedral choir, which is a prestigious position which dates back to the Restoration.”
Although Michael has seen the cathedral change over the years he says the work that it does within the community remains largely the same as it was when he started.
"We still do lots of charitable things to help those who need it the most and we continue to get thousands and thousands of visitors each year,” he explains. “In addition to the daily round of Choral Evensong and the weekly Sung Eucharist, we do an increasing number of special liturgies which often focus on particular interest groups, especially charitable ones."
“If anything, we get more people coming through the doors than ever before, particularly at great festivals, which is very encouraging and indicative of both the cathedral's great beauty and its spiritual attraction.”
The two biggest highlights of Michael’s career at Lichfield Cathedral took place in the same year – 1988.
“The Royal Maundy Service (when the Queen distributes Maundy money to local pensioners), was held at Lichfield Cathedral that year and the choir also visited Rome where we presented to Pope John Paul II. This was truly a life-changing experience and I even got to shake hands with the Pope!”
Michael reflects that what has kept him involved in the cathedral over the years has been the people. “I have met lots and lots of incredibly committed and talented people over time, some of whom have become my closest friends,” he says.
“I am fully committed to my work with the choir and, although I have announced my attention to retire in October, I hope to continue appearing in the stalls as a deputy. When I’m not performing at Lichfield I always enjoy listening to choral services at other cathedrals and maintaining contacts with friends and colleagues in such choirs around the country."
“I also help out in the library as well as in the Flower Guild. It was always my dream to work at the cathedral and I’m so glad that it came true and that I am still here 40 years later.”