Singing for the Pope

Boys and girls from a Thames Valley school have sung for the Pope at an open air mass during the Pontiff's UK state visit.

Two hundred pupils from The Oratory School at Woodcote, Oxfordshire were in the choir for the event at Cofton Park, Birmingham on the morning of Sunday 19 September 2010.  Some of the pupils also had other key roles to play during the service.

The Oratory School was so heavily involved in the event because it was founded by John Henry Newman - a cardinal beatified (made a Saint) by the Pope during his UK visit.

Because of the tight security surrounding the event, the pupils had to have an early last-minute rehearsal at 7am on Sunday ahead of the televised service at 10.30am.

Watch video of the choir rehearsing before the mass