Choir Report 2006

The year started well with a ‘Five Churches Eucharist’ at Tardebigge Church.   St Leonard’s choristers joined Tardebigge’s Choir in the anthem, ‘The Three Kings’, by Cornelius.   David sang the solo part.   What a joy to be able to worship with Christians in a sister church.   We sang ‘Brightest and Best are the Sons of the Morning’ at our own Epiphany-tide service.

Sunday morning worship on the ‘Snowdrop Weekend’ was in the form of a hymn-singing service featuring the hymns of those two great quintessential English composers, Hubert Parry and Ralph Vaughan Williams.

Ash Wednesday signalled the beginning of Lent and there began a miserable period which stretched out for about six months when our beloved Nicholson organ was silent.   This one hundred year old instrument had sung out during thousands of services providing praise, solace, sadness and even fun at times.   These troubles knitted together both choir and congregation, and after much consultation it was decided to install a new blower.   Our prayers were answered:  new breath coursed through long silent pipes and in September the voice of the organ was heard once more, amidst much rejoicing.

The Choir was asked to lead the singing at ‘The Women’s World Day of Prayer’ and we enjoyed singing South African melodic and rhythmic songs.   ‘A Litany of Palms and Passions’ was the occasion for two new anthems, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David’ by David Halls and ‘Holy, Holy, Holy Lord’ by Schubert.   On Maundy Thursday the Choir sang three anthems, ‘Wash Me Throughly’, ‘Ave Verum Corpus’ and ‘Stay With Me’.   ‘Jesus, Remember Me’ was sung as the church was emptied of all vestments and furnishings.

‘Lifted Up and Lifted Down’ was the title of our Good Friday devotion.   The Choir sang ‘Drop, Drop, Slow Tears’ by Orlando Gibbons and ‘It Is A Thing Most Wonderful’ by John Ireland.   It was a very beautiful and humbling service from which we departed in silence.   On Easter Day during the Festal Eucharist we sang a new version of ‘Christ the Lord is Risen Today’ and Miriam sang the familiar words of ‘When I Survey the Wondrous Cross’ to the folk song melody, ‘O Waly, Waly’.

In May I took the Choir to the Ecumenical Centre for a ‘Churches Together’ service.   The typically lively Methodist service was most uplifting.

During the ‘silent organ’ period I took the opportunity to teach the choir a new anthem every week from which we received sustenance and blessings.

There were 53 weddings, at 32 of which the Choir led the singing.   I did a dozen funerals and was delighted to see so many of the families at the Commemoration of the Departed.   Although appropriately sombre, it sometimes sparkled with the joy and certainty of the fuller life of heaven.

On 3rd December we said goodbye to Leigh and Tracey and wished them ‘God speed’ with the anthem, ‘The Lord Bless You and Keep You’.   Extra services during the year included ‘The Parkinson Society’, ‘Christingle with Elizabeth Stranz’s Strings’ and carol services for the Women’s Institute and Church Hill Middle School.   Our own carol services were held on the 17th and 24th December at which we sang four carols.   It was lovely to welcome back Sarah Wilkes and Enid Mullis and a new tenor, Jim Andrews, and, together with David, we provided four part harmony for these celebrations.

I have been absent from Church since Christmas Eve.    During the wedding I  made a very undignified exit so I am afraid that this lengthy report has a very abrupt ending.   I SHALL BE BACK.