Music at Emmanuel

Emmanuel has a long tradition of music, starting with the designers of our organ, Henry Colles and Walford Davies in 1908 and including among past organists Harold Darke.

Music plays a central part in all our services under the enthusiastic direction of our Organist and Director of Music, Ben Lewis-Smith.

On the first Sunday of each month there is a Family Eucharist at 10 am when the children of the parish play a full part and at this service our children’s choir sings. In the Evening of the first Sunday of each month there is Choral Evensong at 6.30 pm. This service follows the beauty and majesty of the English language of the 1662 Book of Common Prayer and the Choir sings an anthem and a setting of the Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis.

On all other Sundays throughout the year there is a Sung Eucharist at 10 am when the choir sings one or two anthems during communion and also choral settings of the Eucharist from time to time. The musical setting of the Eucharist on most Sundays is the Mass of St Thomas by David Thorne.

We host several choral and orchestral concerts a year which are advertised on the pew sheet, monthly emailings and on the Church notice board.

We always welcome new members to Emmanuel choir (especially tenors and basses!) and no audition is necessary. Each week, the music is sent out electronically (pdf and midi) to choir members so they can practice in their own time. Then we all get together at 9am on Sunday to rehearse the anthems and music for the service that day.

If you would like to find out more about music at Emmanuel and the adults or children’s choir, please contact Fr. Jonathan.

For current choir members, this week's music schedule can be accessed via the calendar page.

» For further information on joining either the church choir or the children's choir, click here

For current choir members, this week's music schedule can be accessed via the community page.