Christmas Treasures
by Lisa Ivany and Robert Hunt

“Noah’s Song”

by Robert Hunt

Begun in 1855, St. Patrick’s Church on Patrick Street in St. John’s is a beautiful Gothic church. It took many years and hundreds of men working many hours to bring it to life, and the church stood majestically, especially when compared to other churches built in its day. In 1864, nine years after the cornerstone was laid, work officially began on the structure. The foundation was constructed of stone taken from Cudahy’s Quarry in the Southside Hills. Unforeseen problems prevented work on the project from advancing for another decade. Additional stone was donated in 1875, and construction began once more. After more than two and a half decades, St. Patrick’s Church was finally dedicated on August 28, 1881. It was the beginning of a new religious era.

The church stood regal and proud, waiting for the first voices of praise to be sung to God by its choirs. Many notable voices sang praises to the heavens, but it was not until the bell tower was installed in 1912, and the voice of one Noah Cordon resonated inside the church’s walls, did it officially become a truly memorable place of worship and song. The first time he sang there, Noah was only seventeen years old.

I can remember the story being passed down, from my grandfather to my father, about the remarkable voice of Noah Cordon. It was said that his voice was given to him by the angels, and that no one else could sing the way he could. His voice could make the stained glass in the church tremble. When he sang, it was as if God Himself had thrown a blanket over the whole congregation and silenced the people, awed at this wonderful tenor. Noah and his voice were in demand all over St. John’s. His fame progressed, and he was soon considered the voice of heaven itself.

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The story goes that while Sunday church service was in progress at Christmas in 1912, Noah simply walked into the church off the street and started singing along with the choir. His voice was so beautiful and carried so magnificently that complete silence reigned as he sang; people were hypnotized by his voice. No one seemed to know where he had come from or where he lived. He would just show up each week at Sunday service, and his melancholy voice could be heard resonating inside the church as people marvelled at this beautiful apparition sent by God. Then, as quickly as he had come there, he would leave, before anyone could question him. Rumours of Noah and his voice went around town. None of the congregations had ever heard such a beautiful voice as his. People from other parishes started going to St. Patrick’s Church just to hear him sing.

For two years people speculated about his origin. Word spread that he had no home, but was a lost ghost singing to release himself from purgatory. He would appear wearing a cloak that covered his face, his head hung low, and he would sing and then leave the church. The people were left to speculate as to what he looked like and where he was from. No one knew, for they would not dare disturb him while he sang, and they didn’t wish to stop him as he left church, for fear of his never returning.

The First World War started in 1914, and Noah disappeared from St. Patrick’s Church as quickly as he had walked into it. Rumour had it that he was off to war, fighting for Canada and her freedom, but no one could prove that this was the case, for no one knew of his history or of his origin. The war years were a time of hardship for all people. Many struggled to make ends meet, as sacrifice upon sacrifice was made by everyone to help the war effort.

Some said that Noah had gone to war with the First Five Hundred, others that he was at sea on a warship. Many said that he was only an apparition. So the rumours went, until one day, during Sunday service in December of 1916, a telegram mysteriously appeared for Father Hearn before Sunday Mass. No one knew where this letter had come from. It just seemed to be there when Father was ready to say Mass. He noticed it lying next to the Bible when he walked to the steps leading up to the pulpit.

Father looked at the envelope, which bore the seal of the War Correspondence Office. It was dated November 15, 1916. He felt strange as he took it in his hands and removed the letter within. As he read, his face paled considerably. When he had read a few lines, he stopped and looked out at the crowd that had gathered for the service. There was complete silence as he began reading the letter to the congregation:

November 15, 1916

St. Patrick’s Church Congregation

Patrick Street

St. John’s, Newfoundland

It is with great sadness that we inform you that Sergeant Noah Cordon was killed in action in the Battle of the Somme on November 15. He was among the first of a thousand courageous men who went over the hill and into battle with the enemy.

He was one of many Newfoundland men who died with bravery and distinction. We discovered his body, several hundred feet from where he charged into battle. He will be forever remembered as one of those who died defending the rights and freedoms of us all. May God have mercy on his soul.

He had asked me that if anything were to happen to him, I would inform you so that you would pray for him on Christmas Day.

Major Paul St. Croix

Royal Newfoundland Regiment

The Somme, Amiens, France

The silence was deafening as parishioners bowed their heads in prayer at the sad news of Noah’s passing. Tears ran freely down many cheeks as they remembered the young man with the remarkable golden voice. Many could recall the awe they felt at the beauty of his voice as it vibrated off the walls of the church. Christmas Day would be a sad day indeed as they readied themselves for the departure of the man with the voice of an angel.

Father Hearn spoke to the congregation as he slowly laid the letter on the podium.

“I, like all of you, am devastated by this news and I wish to ask each of you here to pray for Noah, and to please attend the Christmas Day ceremony out of respect for him. We will make it a very special day of celebration just for Noah, and we will sing his favourite hymns, especially his favourite Christmas song, “Little Drummer Boy.”

In the days leading up to Christmas Day, St. Patrick’s was a beehive of activity as people prepared for the December 25 Mass to commemorate Noah’s passing. Special decorations were put in the church, and all was ready when Christmas Day arrived. The church was crowded with parishioners. The choir had been chosen by Mr. Ennis, the choir director, and he asked Daniel Park, his best singer, to sing “Little Drummer Boy.”

Mass started out quietly, but soon grew in volume as everyone sang in unison with the choir. Christmas songs were sung with vigour and feeling as the congregation gave their praise to Noah. As communion was being prepared, Father Hearn turned his head, made the sign of the Cross, and nodded to Daniel Park to sing “Little Drummer Boy” to the crowd, as Noah Cordon would have if he had been there that day. Daniel was about to start, when suddenly all the lights in the church dimmed. The candles that had been lit in memory of Noah flickered and went out. Silence fell in the church as people looked at one another to see what was happening.

Then, an amazing thing happened.