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Music in WorshipIt was St Augustine who said ‘the oneIt was St Augustine who said ‘the oneIt was St Augustine who said ‘the oneIt was St Augustine who said ‘the oneIt was St Augustine who said ‘the onewho sings prays twice’ and that iswho sings prays twice’ and that iswho sings prays twice’ and that iswho sings prays twice’ and that iswho sings prays twice’ and that isjustification enough for the place ofjustification enough for the place ofjustification enough for the place ofjustification enough for the place ofjustification enough for the place ofmusic within our services.music within our services.music within our services.music within our services.music within our services.Music, which for most people touchesMusic, which for most people touchesMusic, which for most people touchesMusic, which for most people touchesMusic, which for most people touchesthem at a deep place, is not just anthem at a deep place, is not just anthem at a deep place, is not just anthem at a deep place, is not just anthem at a deep place, is not just anaid to worship but becomes a meansaid to worship but becomes a meansaid to worship but becomes a meansaid to worship but becomes a meansaid to worship but becomes a meansof worship.of worship.of worship.of worship.of worship.Any priest and any organist knows tooAny priest and any organist knows tooAny priest and any organist knows tooAny priest and any organist knows tooAny priest and any organist knows toowell that the choice of the wrongwell that the choice of the wrongwell that the choice of the wrongwell that the choice of the wrongwell that the choice of the wrongmusic can ruin a service and cause allmusic can ruin a service and cause allmusic can ruin a service and cause allmusic can ruin a service and cause allmusic can ruin a service and cause allkind of tensions. How many of uskind of tensions. How many of uskind of tensions. How many of uskind of tensions. How many of uskind of tensions. How many of ushave heard the question asked, ‘Whohave heard the question asked, ‘Whohave heard the question asked, ‘Whohave heard the question asked, ‘Whohave heard the question asked, ‘Who

to Elizabeth, the angels’ song to theto Elizabeth, the angels’ song to theto Elizabeth, the angels’ song to theto Elizabeth, the angels’ song to theto Elizabeth, the angels’ song to theshepherds, Simeon’s song in theshepherds, Simeon’s song in theshepherds, Simeon’s song in theshepherds, Simeon’s song in theshepherds, Simeon’s song in thetemple. Earth breaks out in song astemple. Earth breaks out in song astemple. Earth breaks out in song astemple. Earth breaks out in song astemple. Earth breaks out in song asthe incarnation is heralded by thethe incarnation is heralded by thethe incarnation is heralded by thethe incarnation is heralded by thethe incarnation is heralded by thesound of music.sound of music.sound of music.sound of music.sound of music.Music is therefore never an incidentalMusic is therefore never an incidentalMusic is therefore never an incidentalMusic is therefore never an incidentalMusic is therefore never an incidentalelement in worship – it is right at theelement in worship – it is right at theelement in worship – it is right at theelement in worship – it is right at theelement in worship – it is right at theheart of the experience ofheart of the experience ofheart of the experience ofheart of the experience ofheart of the experience ofencountering God, at the heart ofencountering God, at the heart ofencountering God, at the heart ofencountering God, at the heart ofencountering God, at the heart ofprayer, at the heart of celebration –prayer, at the heart of celebration –prayer, at the heart of celebration –prayer, at the heart of celebration –prayer, at the heart of celebration –when earth and heaven, when peoplewhen earth and heaven, when peoplewhen earth and heaven, when peoplewhen earth and heaven, when peoplewhen earth and heaven, when peopleand angels are in tune.and angels are in tune.and angels are in tune.and angels are in tune.and angels are in tune.Canon Andrew NunnCanon Andrew NunnCanon Andrew NunnCanon Andrew NunnCanon Andrew Nunn

on earth chose those hymns?’ Singingon earth chose those hymns?’ Singingon earth chose those hymns?’ Singingon earth chose those hymns?’ Singingon earth chose those hymns?’ Singingand music really matter.and music really matter.and music really matter.and music really matter.and music really matter.Perhaps there is no time in the yearPerhaps there is no time in the yearPerhaps there is no time in the yearPerhaps there is no time in the yearPerhaps there is no time in the yearwhen all of this is more the case thanwhen all of this is more the case thanwhen all of this is more the case thanwhen all of this is more the case thanwhen all of this is more the case thanat Christmas.at Christmas.at Christmas.at Christmas.at Christmas.People love singing carols and evenPeople love singing carols and evenPeople love singing carols and evenPeople love singing carols and evenPeople love singing carols and eventhe most hardhearted and cynicalthe most hardhearted and cynicalthe most hardhearted and cynicalthe most hardhearted and cynicalthe most hardhearted and cynicalcannot fail to be moved by hearingcannot fail to be moved by hearingcannot fail to be moved by hearingcannot fail to be moved by hearingcannot fail to be moved by hearingchildren singing ‘Away in a manger’children singing ‘Away in a manger’children singing ‘Away in a manger’children singing ‘Away in a manger’children singing ‘Away in a manger’or joining in a rousing rendition ofor joining in a rousing rendition ofor joining in a rousing rendition ofor joining in a rousing rendition ofor joining in a rousing rendition of‘Hark the Herald Angels sing’.‘Hark the Herald Angels sing’.‘Hark the Herald Angels sing’.‘Hark the Herald Angels sing’.‘Hark the Herald Angels sing’.The story of Christmas is of courseThe story of Christmas is of courseThe story of Christmas is of courseThe story of Christmas is of courseThe story of Christmas is of coursepunctuated with song – Mary’s songpunctuated with song – Mary’s songpunctuated with song – Mary’s songpunctuated with song – Mary’s songpunctuated with song – Mary’s song

Much more than‘just Libera’- Music at St Philip, Norbury

A variety of musical styles

One of thehighlights of the yearChristmasmusic atCroydonParishChurchMUSIC is a very important partof the worshiping life atCroydon Parish Church wherethere is a boy’s choir, a girl’schoir, a men’s choir and a mixedadult choir.

There is a mixture of formaland less formal musicaloccasions during the season.Like many churches we do ofcourse have to start Christmasbefore the actual festival as faras singing carols and havingChristmas music, mainlybecause of the large number ofschools which use our churchfor carol services.

Our first service on December9 is an informal Toy Servicewhere people bring gifts whichwill distributed throughSouthwark ‘Welcare’ to familiesin need. On Friday 14 we have aconcert with the London MozartPlayers coming to CroydonParish Church and joining withour own choirs.

This will be an orchestral andchoral concert and the choirswill sing carols and we shall allsing Christmas carols together.On Sunday 16 December wehave the Town Carol Service.This is the classic nine lessonsand carols and tries toincorporate many areas of thelife of Croydon. The Mayor willread as will the local MP,various representatives fromcharities, perhaps the localhospital and youth movements.This is one of the highlights ofthe Christian year as far asmusic is concerned.

On Christmas Eve we have aCrib Service where, without

rehearsal, we invite children tocome dressed as shepherds orangels or kings and we make upa tableau with anyone whowants to join in as we sing thefavourite Christmas carols.

Midnight Mass will be abeautiful musical event as wecelebrate the holiness of thenight “when the word becameflesh” and we sing all thefavourite carols with descantsand a lovely setting to theEucharist.

Christmas Day will see aperhaps, slightly less formalEucharistic occasion.

We give a great deal of timeand love to all these eventshoping that all those who cometo our church during thisseason will be touched by thelove of God so that they too maywant to kneel in adoration andhopefully deepen theircommitment to him who cameto live amongst us.

Canon Colin BoswellVicar

at HolyTrinity,RedhillAS OUR CHURCH has grownand diversified so has the rangeof musical styles employed inworship. We have fivecongregations meeting eachweek, each with their own styleof music and team of musicians.

At 11 o’clock on Sundayworship is led by a robed choir,accompanied by organ andpiano. We sing a good range oftraditional hymns and somenewer worship songs. Atfestivals the choir will sing ananthem and traditionally on

Good Friday evening, a choralwork such as Olivet to Calvaryor Stainer’s Crucifixion to aidour meditation on the passion.

At 9.15am the style is morecontemporary with a worshipband and a team of singers(right) – here we sing mainlyworship songs with some of thebest hymns from the past. At7pm the style is morecontemporary led by a worshipband (left) drawn from ouryouth group Focus, who attendthis service.

Midweek Rendezvous is amidweek service for adults witha style similar to the 11amSunday service. Kidzone is anafter school service for primaryschool children with an actionpacked, fast-paced style all of its

own. Our Christmas serviceswill reflect the musical varietyof Sunday: two Carols byCandlelight services on 16December - in the style of 9.15and 11am; two Christingleservices on Christmas Eve, in astyle of their own; midnightcommunion; and a joyful FamilyCommunion on Christmas Daythat will seek to reflect thevariety of styles.

Music is a powerful language.It builds bridges with people andsets the tone for a service. Avariety of styles helps us reachout with the Gospel to theamazing variety of people thatGod has created.....

Rev. Gary Jenkins,Vicar

TODAY St Philip, Norbury isknown throughout the world asthe home of Libera - butsurprisingly Libera style musicis not centre-stage at Christmas.

Our festive music is far moretraditional and on Christmasmorning itself we aim at a fullycongregational service with justwell-known carols. Our aim inall the varied services andevents is to help peopleappreciate the wonder of Godcoming to us.

We range from the everydaymusic suitable for our ToyService to the choral offeringsfor our Festival of Nine Lessons

and Carols (6.30 p.m., Sunday,23 December). At this peopleexpect a musical feast and thatis what they get! Many comefrom far to join with us – notjust ex-members but thosedrawn in through our music.The carols will include the verymusical and the highlyatmospheric.

The music at our ChristmasMidnight Mass has a differentemphasis.

We know that somethingspecial will be anticipated butthe choice of the music is toserve the Eucharist and, exceptfor a couple of items, to be

thoroughly inclusive.Participation is the key.

Every Christmas is a bitdifferent and this year early inDecember some of ourchoristers are off to America fora week.

Besides appearing on TV outthere, in connection with aconcert filmed earlier in theyear, they will also beperforming at the KennedyCentre in Washington in aprogramme to be beingtransmitted across the USA”.

Canon PatrickWashington, Vicar

WORSHIP songs such as Lightup the fire led by the choristersat the Christingle service on thefirst Sunday morning inDecember are the earliestmusical indication at StBarnabas, Dulwich, thatChristmas is just around thecorner (10 am All Together atTen, 2 December).

Our adult chamber choirmakes its contribution toAdvent Sunday that sameevening, in a meditative serviceof Holy Communion which willinclude excerpts fromPalestrina’s Missa AeternaChristi Munera (6.30pm).

The hallmark of our mainFestival of Nine Lessons andCarols is usually its variety, butthis year the service will bepunctuated by choruses fromappropriate choruses fromHandel’s Messiah.

It is not practical for us toperform the entire oratorio, assome of our members wouldlove to do, so this is the nextbest thing. But there will beplenty of familiarcongregational hymns as well,with one or two more unusual

carols adding a little seasonalspice. (6.30 16 December). Manyof our choristers and a few ofour adult singers will be pickingup their musical instrumentsand joining the orchestralensemble that leads our cribservices on Christmas Eve (3pmand 4.30pm 24 December).But by 10pm all the tinsel andstraw will have been swept upand the adult and teenage choirwill be assembling for MidnightEucharist.

Many of our regular singerswho rehearse for half a term forthe Carol Service will have leftLondon to join their extendedfamilies elsewhere forChristmas itself, but in theirplace we welcome musicalfriends and family of thoseremaining, not to mention up tothree generations of ex-choristers who can not longersing with us every week butreappear on Christmas Eve.

Some have been choristers orchoral scholars at leadingSomething

magical... ‘A feast of flavour...’Music in Worshipat St Mary Reigate

cathedrals or college chapelssince leaving us, and their skillcombined with our own enablesus to tackle quite ambitiousrepertoire. Last year’s MidnightMass, with a choir of 60, was ourbest ever - let’s hope we canmaintain the standard this year(11 pm 24 December).

Numbers are usuallysomewhat smaller for theChristmas Morning FestivalEucharist, and the average ageof the choir plummets. Butthere is something magicalabout hearing five or six of ouryoungest choristers singing asolo verse of Away in a Manger;and our trumpet trio’s rousingcontributions to O Come all yeFaithful and Once in Royalensure that a jubilant fanfaresends the people of Dulwich offto enjoy their Christmas lunch.

Dr William McVicker,Director of MusicCanon DiannaGwilliams, Vicar

IF VARIETY is the spice of life then St Mary’s Reigate is well placedto serve a feast of flavour this Christmas.

The Parish Church of Reigate,St Mary’s aims to bring togetherthe best of the old and the newto its music in worshipthroughout the year, withChristmas being no exception.An average week at the ParishChurch sees worship expressedusing a wide variety of musicalgenres, to suit almost anypreference.

On a Sunday musical stylesvary from traditional hymns(accompanied by the impressive3 manual Norman & Beardorgan built in 1911) at 9am BCPHoly Communion, acontemporary guitar andkeyboard led band at the 6.30pmevening service and a mixture ofhymns and songs – old and new– at the family orientated10.30am service.

During the week the churchplays host to an equally widevariety of styles from the pianoor guitar accompaniment to 30to 40 toddlers at ‘Tot’s Praise’ to

hosting sung evensong twice aweek in term time, sung by thechoristers of the Godfrey SearleChoir based at St Mary’s Prepschool across the road from thechurch.

Something of this variety willbe part of the Christmascelebrations this year whichinclude the traditional Carols byCandlelight (with one or two

more contemporary pieces),Midnight Communion, a‘Youth Praise’ Carol Serviceled by the youth and childrenof the church and a ChristingleService for all the family onChristmas Eve which last yearattracted a congregation ofover 700!

Rev Phil Andrew,Vicar

Christmas music at St Barnabas, Dulwich

The Bridge asked a number of parishes in the Diocese about music in their Christmas services Photo of Libera from a US TV film