by Sarah Shaffi

sshaffi@thekmgroup.co.uk

A cathedral choir has been entertaining congregations across the pond after its flight was cancelled because of the volcanic eruption in Iceland.

The Rochester Cathedral Voluntary Choir was due to fly home on Thursday, April 15 but was unable to return to Britain because of flight restrictions.

The group of 27, which includes a baby, stayed with host families from the congregation of the Episcopal Church of St Barnabas on Bainbridge Island, near Seattle, before flying to Edmonton in Canada.

Speaking to the Medway Messenger from Canada choir director Douglas Henn-Macrae said: “We are sort of okay. Spirits are mostly high, but we have been doing a lot of travelling and moving from place to place.

“Everyone’s got families to get back to, some people have jobs to get back to, and some people have to go to university and to schools and do exams.”

The choir was on a 10-day tour of the Seattle area and had performed at the church in Bainbridge Island a few days before it was due to fly home.

After its flight was cancelled Mr Henn-Macrae called Fr Dennis Tierney, the rector of St Barnabus.

The church’s congregation arranged for members of the choir to stay with them and a dinner was prepared for the musicians.

The choir arrived in Edmonton on Saturday, April 17, and contacted All Saints’ Anglican Cathedral. Mr Henn-Macrae said: “We made contact with the cathedral and had an early morning telephone call to invite us to a service. Before we even arrived they’d got hosting sorted for us.”

Rosemary Clemence, honorary secretary of the choir, said: “We’ve made the front page of the Edmonton Journal, the national Canadian news programme and a English lady in the city put on a BBQ for us all as she used to attend Rochester Grammar School for Girls.

“Some of us know her old school friends very well, and my bridesmaid of 1971 is still in touch with her. What a small world.”

The group is scheduled on a flight on Saturday, May 1, but is hoping it will be able to fly out before then.