"Almighty loving Father, we thank you for our voices, and lift them up in song to praise your holy name. Amen"

There has been a choir at St Peter's since the 1940's, under the guidance of a number of musical directors, and with the support of the different parish priests. Currently the choir is under the direction of AnneClaire Bennion, and is accompanied by a professional and dedicated organist, Christine O'Grady. We meet every Tuesday evening at 7.30pm, upstairs in the choir loft, and rehearse until 9.00pm, for the 11.00 Mass on Sunday. We start every rehearsal with our choir prayer, and prayers also for any personal intentions of the choir members.

As a church choir we are not auditioned and although it is not necessary to read music, it definitely helps if you can! At the moment there are 4 basses, 5 tenors, 6 altos and 12 sopranos. As you can see from this, we always need tenors and basses!
We sing at 11.00 Mass throughout the year, and at all other major liturgical events, ie Midnight Mass for Christmas and Christmas Day, and all services during the Easter Triduum. We also add our musical contribution to Holy Days of Obligation and major Saint's feast days. When required, we help musically with the schools for the Sacraments of Holy Communion and Confirmation, and at the bi-annual Mass for the Sick.

Our repertoire includes approximately 20 different Mass settings in English and in Latin, both modern and traditional, as well as hundreds of harmonised motets and hymns. The repertoire is constantly being updated as more modern Mass settings become available. We sing the Psalm at every Sunday 11.00 Mass.

Over the years the choir has visited many of the local care homes and hospices to sing at Christmas time, and we sing carols each year for the Dormer Senior Citizen's Christmas party. Each year we present a Carol Concert in church for both the church congregation and the wider public., donating the ticket fee to local charities. We have sung Stainer's "Crucifixion" and other appropriate offerings during Passiontide.

We are available to sing at weddings and funerals for which there is a charge. It is not all work however!! We do have a social life as well ! A pub visit after each rehearsal, a summer barbeque and a lunch out at some time during the year!
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Please contact AnneClaire Bennion 01926 335722 or Anne Elson 01926 882654 for any further information.