Music is woven into the fabric of our worship, building on a rich, broad legacy from decades of musicianship and singing at this church. Music helps us to express our faith in praise and adoration, but it also carries our prayers and holds us gently when in pain, stress and doubt. It connects and restores us; sometimes as we sing or listen it challenges us to see things differently or ask new questions. It strengthens bonds of fellowship when we sing together and supports personal reflection when we want to be still.  As a church we are explicitly aware of, and open to, connecting with God’s Spirit through music.

We understand that everyone’s experience and background is different and that people come to a service in various circumstances and states of mind.  We try to be inclusive, equally at home with traditional or folk-orientated hymns, choruses and modern worship songs. We want people to feel comfortable to join in as they wish. Music is carefully chosen not only to align with themes and readings but also to reflect our church’s journey so that there is continuity and momentum from each service to the next. We use different forms of music appropriate for the occasion: a-capella Taizé chants at our moving Tenebrae service on Maundy Thursday; guitars on the hilltop at our Easter sunrise service; everyone’s favourite carols with organ accompaniment at Christmas. Reprise of our energetic holiday club songs gets everyone dancing!

We have a regular music group that plays two or three Sundays each month, with acoustic and electric guitars mandolin. Occasionally we use the clavinova which has piano or organ settings. Others may play guitar for particular services or activities including outreach to the local care home. We work closely with those leading services, whether the music group are playing or not, to ensure the music works for our growing congregation. We are keen to develop our repertoire - ideas and suggestions are welcome, new music is incorporated year by year. 

During the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, music held a special place for our church community. We recorded hymns and songs for online services, took recorded CDs to church members living alone, and built up a large library of worship music, to which we are still adding new songs and hymns. These recordings are usually used for services when the music group is not available, so that ‘it still sounds like us’.

Please contact Judy Durrant judy.durrant@btinternet.com if you would like to know more about our music, would like to contribute or have any suggestions or comments.