St Andrew's Church
Music
Music at St Andrew’s
Music is an essential and exciting part of our worship at St Andrew’s. The fact that we have a robed choir and that we belong to the modern Catholic part of the Church of England doesn’t mean that we’re old fashioned !
We believe that our worship should be modern and relevant to the realities of contemporary life but that it should also reflect something timeless and transcendent because in some strange way we are joining in the worship of heaven. That’s why we are more than happy to use anything from Tallis to the modern worship songs in our standard or our supplementary hymnbooks. The only proviso we have is that the words and music should be good and not dreary or twee!
One of the things that makes a genuine impression on visitors to St Andrew’s in the way in which people are genuinely encouraged to become involved in our choir or in our church orchestra. Our Director of music Lee Halford is someone who is passionate about giving people a chance to enjoy music and explore their gifts and potential.
The result is both serious and fun, with young, inexperienced voices or instrumentalist being welcomed and genuinely encouraged by experienced and in some cases professional musicians.
Young members of the choir receive training in both singing and in reading music: the RSCM training schemes are used, and all our young choir members are encouraged to take RSCM, diocesan and national awards. In the same way everyone is welcome to join the Church orchestra which plays during our monthly All Age Mass, with the Director of Music writing different parts for people according to their individual abilities.
For further details about St Andrew’s choir, and for practice times/music lists and details of forthcoming events, please visit their website.