MUSIC AT ST MARY’SSt Mary’s Choir carries on a long tradition in the parish of SATB choral singing; but its main purpose is to lead the congregation in responses and hymns in praise of Almighty God. The music sung at each service is selected to complement the liturgy of the day. The services at which the Choir is in attendance are the last Mass on Sunday morning, the major feast days around Christmas and Easter, and any other service where specially required.
The Choir’s repertoire is wide and varied comprising Motets and Anthems, by both modern and classical composers; it also includes Mass settings, psalms, and the more familiar pieces of plainchant music. Regular practices, lasting about twenty minutes, take place after the Sunday sung Mass, with extra, longer practices before any of the big Feasts or special occasions.
The Choir sing from the Choir Gallery situated at the end of the nave below the fine, stained glass window of Our Lady of the Assumption, which is set in the church’s West gable. The Gallery has a good acoustic, the tiered, hardwood floor, laid in 1990 over the existing pitch pine floor, giving a firm resonance, helpful in the accomplishment of good singing.
It was then, in 1990, that the present organ was installed. The original organ was located against the North wall of the Gallery, but the Organ Builder, when considering where to site the present organ, suggested that the position be relocated to the South wall in order to improve access and make better use of the available space. The move revealed two windows on the North wall, which up to that time, had been hidden behind the organ and never appreciated.
The organ itself was built in 1901 by the well k known firm of William Hill of London. It has been installed initially in a church in Mellor, near Blackburn and it was discovered for St. Mary’s in a dismantled stat in a building in Wavertree, Liverpool. On examination it was found to be the right size to fit in the gallery and to have a suitable specification for a church the size of St. Mary’s. It is a two manual instrument with eight stops on the Great, eight on the Swell, and two to the pedals. The action to the manuals is tracker and the action n to the pedals is electro-pneumatic. The front panelling is figured oak with raised and fielded mouldings. Altogether it is a well-maintained, fine instrument.
The present Organist is Mr Peter Morrison GRNCM. FRCO. MA; The Choir Master is Mr Jeff Thompson. Any enquiries regarding the above should be made via the Parish Office Tel 01257 262537.
ST MARY'S PARISHIONERS AT WORK
