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Building on the success of last year’s devotional performance of Duruflé’s Requiem on All Souls’ Day, Christ Church Cathedral is pleased to announce this year’s observance to mark the “day of the dead” in the form of an online video service. As a cathedral for the city and indeed the world, the service this year holds in prayer those who have died from causes currently at the forefront of our collective psyche: systemic racism, the opioid crisis, missing and murdered indigenous women, climate change, and COVID-19.

The cathedral’s Dean, The Very Reverend M. Ansley Tucker sees these uncertain times as a catalyst for our own reflections on death. “These days, it seems that our defences against death are failing us – not just because of illness, but because of structures and systems and attitudes and behaviours. Death is all around us, and it is calling us to change our ways, and to be a force for life.”

The service will feature music and dance from the Songhees Traditional Dancers, and reflections by Elizabeth May (MP and former Green Party of Canada leader) and Julian Daly (CEO, Our Place). There will be poetry and scripture, and the young choristers and choral scholars of the cathedral will provide musical reflections on each theme.

The video will be available to view from 9.00 am on Monday November 2 on the Cathedral website There will also be a special premiere viewing on the cathedral’s Facebook page and YouTube channel at 5.00 p.m.

Full Service Details  

Opening Welcome: The Very Reverend M. Ansley Tucker

Prayer Song and Dance: Songhees Traditional Dancers

Part 1: Black Lives Matter

Poem and Reflection: Victor Aimey

Music: Abide with Me (arr. Moses Hogan)

Part 2: The Opioid Crisis

Reflection: Julian Daly, CEO, Our Place

Music: Insanae et vanae curae (Franz Joseph Haydn)

Reading: In paradisum

Part 3: Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women with the Wildflowers Drumming Group (Jessica Sault, leader)

Introduction and Strong Women Song

Introduction and Warrior Song

Part 4: Planet Earth

Reflection: Elizabeth May, MP

Music: Psalm 121 (Henry Walford Davies)

Reading: Canon Ian Alexander

Part 5: COVID-19

Reflection: Ross Bliss

Music: Pie Jesu from Requiem, op. 48 (Gabriel Fauré)
Reading: Canon Ian Alexander

Prayers: The Very Reverend M. Ansley Tucker

Concluding Hymn: Angel Voices Ever Singing