Music

Music is very important to help us in our worship at St Mary's: we enjoy both a long tradition of  music and also more contemporary music in our all-age worship.

We have a robed choir that includes boys and girls from 8 upwards, young men and women at school and adults up to the age when they prefer to sit back and listen.  The choir is affiliated to the Royal School of Church Music and ChoralNet.  The members of the choir are amateur and small payment is made to the children as a reward for their loyalty and commitment.

The choir have made two recordings "Tell out my Soul" - choral and organ music for the Church’s year and "In Royal David’s City" music for Advent, Christmas and Epiphany.  We participate in the annual RSCM choir festival in Durham Cathedral and in recent years have sung at Ripon Cathedral, St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral (Edinburgh) and Carlisle Cathedral.

The choir has social outings such as the Pantomime for the youngsters and the choir dinner for the adults. 

When and where we meet? 

Every Sunday Sung Eucharist 9.20am for 9.30am until 10.50am
  Evensong or Readings & Music 6.20pm for 6.30pm until 7.40pm
     
Occasional Sung Eucharist Epiphany, Corpus Christe, Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Holy Saturday, Ascension, St Mary the Virgin (8th Sept.)
   
Away Various Festival Services, Cathedral Visits, Whickham School, other churches
     
Weddings On some Fridays/Saturdays  
     
Choir Practice Children Thursday 6.20pm until 7.45pm except holidays
    Sunday 11.00am until 11.30am for juniors
  Adults Thursday 6.55pm until 8.15pm
    Occasional special practices at other times

 

If you'd like more information or are interested in joining the choir please constact our Director of Music Michael Grave through the Parish Office