St. Wilfrid's Church Choir plays an important part in the life and worship of the Parish. It is a robed choir, which sings every Sunday Morning at the Sung Eucharist Service and at Choral Evensong on the second Sunday of each month (except August). In addition, it also takes part in Sung Eucharists on Festival Days such as Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday and Ascension Day, as well as Weddings and Funerals when required.  The music we sing is largely traditional and hymns are taken from ‘Hymns Old and New’ published by Kevin Mayhew.  Psalms are sung to Anglican Chant with occasional use of Responsorial Psalms.  The Choir sings an anthem during Communion and also at Choral Evensong.  In October 2004 the Choir sang Evensong in Chichester Cathedral.  

Choir Practice is held every Friday Evening (except during school holidays) from 5.30 - 7.00pm. The Junior Choir work with Helen Woods in the Church whilst the Altos, Tenors and Basses work with Rex Latter in the Church Hall for approximately 45 minutes before coming together for the remainder of the practice.

The Choir consists of  30 Choristers and is made up of 16 Trebles/Sopranos, (all under 18 years of age) 5 Altos, 1 Counter Tenor, 4 Tenors (including our organist)  and 5 Basses.  There are three vacancies at the moment and tenors and/or basses would be particularly welcome.

The Choir is affiliated to the Royal School of Church Music and members of the Junior Choir (which includes one bass and one tenor!) are encouraged to follow its Training Scheme. Those who are working or have worked through the scheme, wear different coloured ribbons to denote the levels they have achieved. Light Blue Ribbons are awarded first, followed by Dark Blue and then Red. Depending on the age and ability of each Chorister approximately two years of training will be necessary between each level. Children remain in the Junior Choir until the age of 15 years (or in the case of boys, when their voice breaks). They are then encouraged to remain as members of the Senior Choir, singing whichever part they find most comfortable. Two of our basses and four of our sopranos are such examples.

Choristers under the age of 18 are encouraged to enter for the locally awarded Dean's and Bishop's Awards (Chichester Diocese). Candidates work to a required syllabus and are then examined by a Diocesan Appointed Examiner. For some years now, members of our Choir have entered for these examinations, which are held twice a year. Current membership of the Choir shows 8 Dean's Choristers and 3 Bishop's Choristers, plus 3 who have gone on and gained the Junior St. Cecilia’s Award which is awarded by the RSCM.  We also have one adult chorister who has gained the Bronze Award which is also awarded by the RSCM, which has recently introduced a revised raining scheme which includes adult choristers.  The three major awards here are bronze, silver and gold. The  Junior Choir is following this new scheme but it is intended that we will still enter choristers for the Dean’s and Bishop’s Awards.  Those who do well at the Bishop’s Award will be encouraged to work for the silver and, if appropriate, for the gold as well.

At various times during the year, all members of the Choir attend Courses run by the R.S.C.M. These enable them to gain expertise and widen their repertoire. Most of our Juniors have attended 2/3-Day Courses and several have been on Residential Courses. The generosity of the Parochial Church Council makes this possible by paying the Course Fees either in whole or in part.

Helen Woods

The St. Wilfrid's Male Voice Choir 1933

St.Wilfrid's Church Choir
October 1973
With the Chichester Music Festival Cup

Back row: Rev Sinclair Snow (Vicar), Neil Harris, Bill Whittard, Rev Victor Steynor (Curate), Fred Mason, Harold Minns

Next to back row: Denis Soul (Choir Master & Organist), Alan Gooding, Rex Latter (Asst. Choir Master & Organist)

Ladies: Deborah Blewitt, Sheila Wright, Sandy Green, Joan Coleman, Irene Bennett, Margaret Gooding

Trebles/Sopranos: Andrew Hall, Neil Feinson, Ruth Blewitt, Patricia Highley

Beverley Timms, Charles Dyer, Mary Highley, Jennifer Dyer, Lynn Hawkes