SALISBURY, England (AP) – David Halls is not a doctor, nurse or ambulance driver, but he wanted to contribute to the fight against COVID-19. So he did what he does best: he sat down on the bench next to the historic organ of Salisbury Cathedral and started playing.
Halls is one of many people who turned the 800-year-old cathedral in southwest England into a massive vaccination center as the UK races to inoculate 50 million people. His contribution to the effort is to offer a little bit of Bach, Handel, and even a little bit of Rodgers & Hammerstein to the audience as they shuffle through the ship to take their photos.
“In times of crisis people come together and want to listen to music; in moments of joy, people want to listen to music, ”Halls, the cathedral’s music director, told The Associated Press. “And so I don’t think it’s a surprise how calming music affects people who are probably quite stressed for various reasons.”
Home to one of the best-preserved examples of the Magna Carta and England’s tallest church tower, Salisbury Cathedral has been appointed as a vaccination center as the government expands its shot program to football stadiums, convention centers and hundreds of local doctor’s offices to speed delivery .
Hundreds of elderly residents rolled up their sleeves and took their photos inside the large ship, which is large enough to bring people together while keeping them safe from each other.
It is in stark contrast to 1627, when church leaders locked the cathedral gates to keep town people out while plague swept through Salisbury. Canon Nicholas Papadopulos, dean of the cathedral, says he reflected on that episode with “deep-seated discomfort” last year as he celebrated the building’s 800th anniversary.
Now it is time for a new chapter.
“If these stones could speak, they would talk about moments of incredible joy and moments of incredible sadness,” Halls said. “It feels very fitting for the cathedral to play its part in trying to change things and participate in the vaccinations … To be a part of that is such a privilege, such an honor.”
The UK plans to offer a first dose of vaccine to more than 15 million people by mid-February as it targets the country’s oldest and most vulnerable residents in the first phase of the program. Younger groups of people will follow suit, and the government plans to reach everyone over 18 by September.
The need is urgent. The UK health care system is staggering as doctors and nurses battle a more contagious variant of COVID-19.
Although the number of new infections seems to have peaked, the number of people admitted to the hospital is still rising. More than 39,000 patients are being treated in UK hospitals, 80% more than during the first peak of the pandemic last April. Britain has reported 93,463 deaths from coronavirus, more than any other country in Europe and the fifth highest toll worldwide.
The effort at the cathedral is a community effort, involving many. Organists took turns playing the huge “Father Willis” for two hours – taking care to disinfect in between.
John Challenger, 32, Salisbury’s assistant music director, said many who make the recordings are elderly people who are isolated and haven’t been able to hear live music for months.
In addition to playing soothing music, Challenger used his time on the organ to entertain and reminisce, playing songs such as Mendelssohn’s “Wedding March.”
“And in the more frivolous moments I played ‘I Do Like to Be Beside the Seaside’ because, you know, we all want to go on vacation and can’t go where we want to,” he said.
Among those who listened on Wednesday was Sylvia Parkin, 82, who came with her husband, David, 86. They have had to stay at home a lot in the past 10 months, which was not nice.
“It’s an outing today, isn’t it?” She said cheerfully. “It’s a great place to get an injection. ″
And while it may be a long way to the organ booth, people have managed to get their requests in.
Halls played Handel’s “Largo” and Bach’s “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” for an 80-year-old neighbor who had sent an email requesting that his favorites play at exactly 10:45 AM on Saturday, just when the needle went in.
When Halls was done, he glanced at the screen showing the organist what was happening on the floor below and saw his neighbor wave frantically – wiper style – and express his gratitude.
“He emailed me later and he said this was the best part of his life, except for his wedding day,” Halls said. “I think it’s actually pretty good to come second.”
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Kearney contributed from Salisbury, England.
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