General Information
The St. Peter’s Church Choir consists of adult singers and children of all ages. It serves the congregation in the diverse approach to Sunday worship at St. Peter’s, and also carries out an important ministry singing for weddings and funerals when requested.
The Parish Choir maintains a choral tradition that began centuries ago, even before the establishment of the Church of England, and is now almost unique to this country alone. The choir has a long-standing musical tradition and it aims to achieve the highest possible standards in leading the worship at our church. The choir is affiliated to the Royal School of Church Music, and a number of past choristers have gone on to distinguish themselves in the world of music.
One of the wonderful aspects of choral singing is that it is a ‘team activity’ that can involve all age groups from 8 to 80!! – the common bond being a simple love of singing and music. Choral singing is one of the few activities in the field of human endeavour when children and young people can work with adults on an equal level and have an equally important part to play.
What we do?
The choir’s main function is to lead the worship at the main service held on a Sunday morning at St. Peter’s; the 10am Morning Service. In addition, there are occasional weddings & funerals, occasional evensongs held at St. Peter’s and also occasional visits to cathedrals to lead the sung services there (such as Gloucester Cathedral).
The repertoire is rich and varied, and consists of hymns and worship songs, psalms and canticles, responses, carols, music from Iona and Taizé, and some of the finest anthems from the sixteenth century to the present day, a repertoire that has been richly expanded by the inspiration of many famous composers such as Tallis, Gibbons, Byrd, Bach, Handel, Mozart, Wesley, Stanford, Howells and modern composers such as John Rutter.
The choir mainly rehearses and leads the Sunday worship with the organ on a Sunday morning, but it also sings for other services over the main festivals in the church calendar; Harvest, Advent, Christmas, Easter, Saints Days, etc.
Schedule and Contact?
- The choristers & adults rehearse at 9.15am in the Church Cottages (meeting rooms) prior to moving to the church to robe up ready for the 10am Morning Service on a Sunday
- The rehearsal for children is held on a Friday evening between 6.30-8pm in the church, with the adults joining them from 7-8pm
Please do not hesitate to contact the Director of Music, through the parish office, should you have any further questions or would like any further information. We look forward to welcoming you into the choir!
Why should I join a choir?
Singing as part of a choir – especially in a church – is not always perceived to be a ‘fun’ activity. In fact, some people may think of it as a ‘chore’. However, they couldn’t be more wrong! For children, there are not many things more valuable to their development. Obviously from a musical point of view, it is one of the best activities that they can be involved in – even if they play other instruments. Singing is one of the most natural things that your body is designed to do!
Even if someone thinks that they aren’t very ‘good’ at singing – we can all do it. Everyone sings to themselves in the car, in the shower, along to the radio, etc………!! They just need to be taught how to do it properly – and singing in a choir amongst others is a very good place to start. As well as the huge musical benefits, there are many transferable skills for children to learn as part of a choir – leadership, responsibility, team work, literacy and reading skills, and many, many more.
The ability to sing in a choir together as members of a family (siblings, parent and child, everyone together) is a very special activity. There is much scientific research that has been carried out detailing the positive benefits of singing from a physical as well as emotional and general well-being point of view for people of all ages. In this day and age of ever-increasing family pressures with technology and cost-of-living – why not come and join an activity that is fun, good for you, part of a really friendly, welcoming group and that is totally free (!)? We’d love to have you join us.
Rewards & benefits!
- To grow up as an active and important member of a friendly choir with a strong sense of purpose.
- Make new friends and join a warm and supportive ‘team’.
- Unlike so many clubs/societies in this day and age, there is no membership fee to pay, and no experience is necessary. In fact, for the children in the choir – they will get some money for taking part (see next point…!)
- To receive some pocket money (children) each term in recognition of their time and effort; this ranges from around £10 for beginners, through to around £30 for more experienced young people
- To receive extra pocket money for singing for occasional weddings
- To progress through a training scheme that provides a good musical education as well as encouraging the chorister’s spiritual development within the church.
- Have a chance to take part in an all-age organisation that encourages an appreciation of cultural and artistic activity in an increasingly materialistic world.
- Receive free training in the basic through to more advanced theory of music, and of singing technique.
- To have the opportunity of advancing to positions of leadership and responsibility within the choir as either Deputy or Head Chorister.
- To join in with the youth activity programme that is flourishing within the Parish (normally held at Emmanuel Church on a Tuesday evening 7-8.30pm for those in Y7-13)