St Mary's Choir

The choir is a committed group of 25 or so singers, with ages ranging from teens to nineties. The choir leads the singing at mass on the first and third Sundays of the month, during Holy Week and Easter, Christmas Midnight Mass, and on major feasts and liturgies throughout the year.

Their main job is to lead the singing of congregational hymns, mass settings and responses, but the choir also support and enhance the liturgy by drawing on the extensive and rich repertoire of liturgical music from across ages and traditions – everything from plainchant, folk hymns, renaissance polyphony, modern anthems, and the odd gospel number.  

The choir are always on the lookout for new members.  Quite a high standard is aimed for, and the music can often be technically challenging for a parish choir, often needing some hard work. You don’t necessarily have to read music (though it helps if you do), but you do need to be able to sing confidently and in tune, blend with others, and be open-minded and accepting of all types of church music. And be able to give a decent commitment to rehearsals, which are on Monday evenings during term-time, 7:30 – 9:00. If interested, catch up with the choir director, Paul Berry, after mass or on 01434 607954.