St. Wilfrid's Choir
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 with wider use of worship songs at the Family Services on the third Sunday of each month. Although the hymn book currently in use is ‘Hymns Old and New’ published by Kevin Mayhew, the Choir takes the music from the English Hymnal if the original harmony is preferred. The psalms are usually sung to Anglican Chant but we are now introducing Responsorial Psalms on a regular basis.
The Choir sings an anthem during Communion at 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. We are fortunate in having a Director of Music and an Organist, so that for the first part of the practice, the Junior and Senior Choirs work separately coming together in Church for the last hour.
The Choir consists of 34 Choristers (including the Director of Music and Organist) and is made up of 18 Trebles/Sopranos (14 of whom are under 18 years of age) 2 Altos, 1 Counter Tenor, 6 Tenors and 6 Basses. We currently have vacancies for 2 Altos.
The Choir is affiliated to the Royal School of Church Music and members of the Junior Choir are encouraged to follow its Training Scheme. Choristers under the age of 18 are eligible to enter 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 four Dean’s Choristers and one Bishop’s Chorister, plus one who gained the Junior St Cecilia’s Award and one with the adult St Cecilia’s Award which was awarded by the RSCM. The RSCM have introduced a new award scheme available to both junior and adult choristers. We also have one adult chorister with the RSCM Silver Award and one adult chorister with the RSCM Gold Award, the highest award available.
At various times of the year, all members of the Choir attend courses run by the RSCM. These enable them to gain expertise and widen their repertoire. Two adult members of the choir have attended 2/3 day courses and several have attended evening and day trainings. A large proportion of the Choir take part in the Annual RSCM Festival held at Chichester Cathedral. The generosity of the Parochial Church Council makes attendance at courses possible by paying the course fees either whole or in part.
In addition to this, the Choir presents a concert approximately every eighteen months where it sings music that is very different from that which is sung on a Sunday!
For further information contact either:
Director of Music: James Kirkpatrick Tel: 01243 587279 Junior Choir: Alison McCaffrey Tel: 01243 824379
| Podcasts relating to the Choir |
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| Fr. Andrew presenting a Gold Award to Allison McAffrey 14th December, 2008 | |
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Helen Woods explaining all about St. Wilfrid's Choir at Back To Church Sunday on 28th September 2008 |
Choir News:
For the latest news from our Choir Correspondent Alison Mccaffrey click here
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A recording by the St. Wilfrid's Choir
An excerpt from 'Spirit of Mercy'
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Choir
Archive:
Bethany Higgs and Melissa Carrington
Leaving St. Wilfrid's Choir
Choral Evensong 12 July will mark the contribution made by Melissa Carrington and Bethany Higgs to St Wilfrid’s choir. Bethany has been in the choir for ten years and Melissa for three. They will be leaving for University in the autumn
Bethany joined the choir in September 1999, a few months before her ninth birthday. Right from the start she showed great enthusiasm for the choir and over the years developed not only into a valuable member of the choir but also into a fine soloist. She gained the Dean’s Award in 2002 and then went on to achieve the Bishop’s Award with credit in January 2005. The following May she was entered for the RSCM Silver Award which she gained with merit. She became Head Chorister in June 2005 and set the Juniors an excellent example to follow. She moved into the young adult section of the choir in September 2006. Over the years she has sung many fine solos such as Schubert’s “Ave Maria”, the “Pie Jesu” from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Requiem” and the opening verse of “In the bleak mid-winter” by Harold Darke to name but a few. Her commitment to the choir has been evident throughout seldom missing either practices or services. The choir will no doubt miss her when she goes to University in September.
Melissa was introduced to the choir by Bethany in September 2006 at the age of fifteen. She went straight into the young adult section of the choir where, with Bethany’s guidance, she quickly settled in and became totally committed to the choir becoming a worthy and valuable member. She too has given a great deal to the choir and although to date has not wished to work for any awards, has nevertheless achieved an excellent standard of choral singing. She too will be missed.
We would like to conclude by thanking both girls for all they have done for the choir. Their support has been invaluable. We wish them both well at University and in their future careers and hope that we may see them in the choir again. Rex and Helen
Bethany
singing Hear My Prayer on
Sunday 19th July 2009 with
Helen Woods conducting
Helen Wood's Retirement as Choir Trainer 5th October, 2008
New Director of Music Announced
Mr James Kirkpatrick has been appointed as the new Director of Music to succeed Helen Woods who retired on Sunday 5th October 2008.
The St. Wilfrid's Male Voice Choir 1933
The St. Wilfrid's Male Voice Choir (Date unknown)
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
