Did you hear the one about...

... the novice friar who walked into a concert hall, having unexpectedly found himself in possession of a ticket? He got chatting to the chap sitting next to him, as you do, and it turned out that, way back, this fellow had had - you'll never guess - Dominican connections.

Interested to learn from Brother Music Lover that the nearby Priory was in desperate need of a lift to provide painless access for less nimble Mass-goers to the main (upstairs) chapel, he stuck his hand in his pocket and pulled out £100. 'Small contribution to the lift fund, Brother.'

Ah, the power of music. In this case, Bach's St Matthew Passion. In Holy Week.

God bless all the benefactors, living and dead, of the Order of Preachers. And Johann Sebastian Bach.