Choristers up early for Ascension Day

Choristers were singing from the roof of Lichfield Cathedral today. Members of the Lichfield Cathedral Choir gathered early this morning to mark Ascension Day.

The occasion is marked 40 days after Easter each year and represents the ascension of Christ to Heaven. The singing of Psalms 110, 150 was followed by Holy Communion.

A celebration of the Ascension for Lichfield Church Primary Schools also took place at the cathedral afterwards.

Older boys in the choir were allowed up onto the roof, while younger members stayed on ground level.

Luckily, despite grey clouds and a chilly wind, it remained dry for this morning's songs, which happened at around 7.15am.

The choristers are all pupils at Lichfield Cathedral School. Set in the grand surroundings of The Close, the school benefits from a close relationship with the Chapter of the Cathedral. As an Anglican foundation, the school says Christian values are an important part of daily life but children of any denomination are welcome.

In March, hundreds of pupils were evacuated from Lichfield Cathedral School, where the choristers are based, after a computer laptop exploded.

Thirty firefighters from across the region rushed to tackle the flames and stop them spreading to the historic cathedral nearby.

It started in an office area on the first floor of the School House building, leaving the room gutted and causing damage to other rooms.