The Choir:

St Mary’s Church is blessed to have the services of a friendly, enthusiastic, dedicated and talented group of singers that is St Mary’s Choir.

The choir sings in St Mary’s at the morning services and at the evening service on the first Sunday of the month.  The evening service is often a full Choral Evensong, and special musical services are sung throughout the year at Advent, Christmas, Candlemas, Palm Sunday, and Remembrance.

The choir generally has one cathedral visit each year – Salisbury, Winchester and Guildford have been regular favourites over the past few years. The picture above shows the choir at Portsmouth Cathedral in July 2008. The choir also performs an annual concert in aid of local charities.

Rehearsals are on Tuesday evenings from 7.30 to 9.00 in St Mary’s church followed by refreshment at the local hostelry.

If you would like to sing in St Mary’s Choir, or know of anyone who might be interested in doing so, please have a word with our Organist, Mike Smith or our Choirmaster, Richard Potter. Click here to contact them by email.

Musical dates for your diary:

Choral Evensong with the theme of Candlemas on Sunday 7th February at 6.00pm.

The first of the 2010 series of Organ Recitals will be given by Mike Smith on Saturday 13th February at 7.30pm.  Programme will include music by J. S. Bach (Prelude and Fugue in G major, BWV 541), C.Franck (Pièce Héroique) and J.M.Michel (Petite Suite in Blue).  Admission is free with a retiring collection in aid of the Organ Fund.

The Organ:

The first organ was built by Forster and Andrews and installed in St Mary's in 1871.  It was a gift of Mrs Esther Combe of Pierrepont. It was entirely reconstructed by Hill, Norman and Beard in the spring of 1922. It had tubular pneumatic action and was blown by a new hydraulic engine although this was replaced by an electric motor in 1929. Since then, further restoration and enhancements have given us the magnificent instrument we have today.

To hear the organ please click on a link below:

Processional from the Music for the Royal Fireworks by G F Handel - click here. 

Trumpet Tune by David N Johnson - click here

For a full history and specification click here.