The Choir
Singing from the choir gallery every Sunday at the 10.30 a.m. Mass, the choir contributes greatly to the liturgical life of the parish, in accordance with the teaching of Sacrosanctum Concilium (the Vatican II Decree on the Liturgy): "Liturgical worship is given a more noble form when the divine offices are celebrated solemnly in song, with the assistance of the sacred ministers and the active participation of the people".
Our fundamental aim is simple: to enhance the liturgy and encourage congregational singing. The choir alternates with the congregation in the singing of the Ordinary of the Mass (Kyrie, Gloria, etc.) and joins in with it when singing hymns and responses. Sometimes during Communion the choir sings a motet or chant on its own. We are conscious of our links with Sir Edward Elgar and his family and have been proud to use some of his smaller-scale motets such as the Ave Verum and O Salutaris Hostia. Our parish priest, Father Patrick, has spurred the choir's efforts to broaden the musical offering while continuing to sing the monastic plainchant has always been part of our parish's musical tradition.
Over the years, the choir has gone through many permutations and organists have come and gone, but there has always been singing of some kind from the gallery during Sunday Mass and on other important liturgical feasts. We are grateful to Patricia Soper, who was organist for many years, and to Angela Cranmore, musical director from 2013 until 2020. Angela consolidated the repertoire, introducing new material such as the Schubert Mass and transcribing many of the Latin chants into modern notation. She was encouraged and supported in this by our previous parish priest, Father Edward Crouzet, who introduced the Catholic Hymn Book, compiled by the London Oratory, in 2013.
Our fundamental aim is simple: to enhance the liturgy and encourage congregational singing. The choir alternates with the congregation in the singing of the Ordinary of the Mass (Kyrie, Gloria, etc.) and joins in with it when singing hymns and responses. Sometimes during Communion the choir sings a motet or chant on its own. We are conscious of our links with Sir Edward Elgar and his family and have been proud to use some of his smaller-scale motets such as the Ave Verum and O Salutaris Hostia. Our parish priest, Father Patrick, has spurred the choir's efforts to broaden the musical offering while continuing to sing the monastic plainchant has always been part of our parish's musical tradition.
Over the years, the choir has gone through many permutations and organists have come and gone, but there has always been singing of some kind from the gallery during Sunday Mass and on other important liturgical feasts. We are grateful to Patricia Soper, who was organist for many years, and to Angela Cranmore, musical director from 2013 until 2020. Angela consolidated the repertoire, introducing new material such as the Schubert Mass and transcribing many of the Latin chants into modern notation. She was encouraged and supported in this by our previous parish priest, Father Edward Crouzet, who introduced the Catholic Hymn Book, compiled by the London Oratory, in 2013.
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While congregational singing was prohibited during the pandemic, a couple of stalwarts still sang from the gallery, at first a cappella and later with organ accompaniment, so that music could continue to complement the liturgy. Since August 2021, when congregational singing resumed, we have had a small choral group - some regular, some less regular - who sing on Sundays and feast days. Last year one of our members organised a delightful Christmas concert by candlelight where we were joined by other singers - see the clip of "O Holy Night". At the moment we practise before Sunday Mass at 9.45 a.m. Anybody is welcome to join us. If you enjoy singing, please come along, or contact Mary Verdult (maryverdult@btinternet.com) or Bernadette Eakin (12345bernadette@gmail.com) for more information.
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A few members of the choir pose in front of the Nicholson Organ.
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