A LETTER confirming Sir Edward Elgar's support for Worcester Cathedral has been unearthed by enthusiasts of the renowned Worcestershire composer.
Catherine Sloan, director of the Elgar Birthplace Museum in Lower Broadheath, said the correspondence from Dean Moore Ede to Elgar asking him to support a Society of Friends for the Cathedral was found among more than 11,000 letters relating to the composer held in their archives.
She decided to scour the archives after we reported on Wednesday how the society is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year and that Elgar had written to the dean lending his support to the group and pledging 20 shillings per year to the cause.
Mrs Sloan said the latest letter, dated January 13, 1930, was written a few years before Elgar's death, his reponse confirming his love of the Cathedral - despite the fact he was Roman Catholic and did not worship there - as well as the Faithful City.
It reads: "Now I am writing I want to ask a favour - I am about to launch a Society of Friends of the Cathedral and wish to commend it by attaching names of some influential persons - Cobham & Stanley Baldwin have given their names, I would like yours.
`You love the Cathedral - it has been the scene of many of your triumphs. What I am proposing has to do with preserving the building and not with any ecclesiastical doctrine."
Mrs Sloan said: "It's wonderful our archives contain so much about the history of Worcester and the great buildings such as the Cathedral.
"We know from an early age Elgar used to listen to the music at the Cathedral wherever he could so it obviously held a special place in his heart and
was influential in his
musical life.
"It's not surprising therefore that he lent his support to Dean Ede to set up the Friends and that is why the letter ends with it being about preserving the building and not about religion."
The museum is now inviting interested parties to view the document by contacting them on 01905 333224.
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