Serving God in the heart of our community since 1881

St Andrew's Church, Taunton

Director of Music Alan to become hoodie!

1 October 2006

It will be a proud day for St Andrew’s Director of Music, Alan Cook, when he goes to Lambeth Palace in November to receive the Archbishops’ Certificate in Church Music from Dr Rowan Williams.  The qualification will entitle Alan to put the letters ACertCM after his name and to wear the appropriate academic hood.

For over 4 years, Alan has been working through the 5 parts of this course in his spare time. Last year he completed two 5,000-word essays, one on the shape and structure of the Common Worship Eucharist and the other on the music and influence of C V Stanford, an early 20^th century composer of church music.  For the past 12 months, Alan has spent most of his work-day lunch breaks and many evenings studying for the three-hour written paper he took in May.  The paper was in three parts:

Christian Liturgy; Church Music History, with three set works by Britten, Darke and MacMillan and Music in Worship, in which Alan chose to answer questions on anthems for unison voices, plainsong and Howell’s settings of the Evensong canticles.

The standard required to pass is high as each answer must attain 60% (most qualifications have a 40-45% pass level). 

Only a handful of people throughout the country have been awarded the Certificate this year.

So what prompted a man who hadn’t taken an exam for over 40 years to submit to the rigours of study required?  “Until now, my only paper qualifications in music were Grade 4 Organ and an O-level,” said Alan.  “I wanted to prove I could do it!  And I think I wanted to have some qualifications behind me to support my diocesan work,” added Alan who, as Diocesan Music Adviser, travels all over the diocese encouraging other church organists, choir directors and choirs to reach new heights of musical achievement.  In setting these targets for himself, Alan – who claims not to be an academic – has led by example, and we all congratulate him and look forward to seeing him wearing his new hood at services.

Not one to rest on his laurels, Alan has now set his sights on the Fellowship Diploma, which is the highest qualification awarded by the Guild.  He intends to take 2 years over this, as it is estimated that 800 hours of study are required to achieve it – which is over 15 hours per week!

The Archbishops’ Certificate and the Fellowship are awarded by the Guild of Church Musicians which was founded in 1888.  The Fellowship Diploma is validated by Canterbury University.

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