Our primary mission is to support the congregation, using music to sustain an appropriate atmosphere conducive to prayer, throughout all the liturgical seasons of the Church’s year.
We draw from a wealth of good sacred music and hymns throughout history, from Gregorian chant, through the classics to the contemporary. Some music is sung unaccompanied, often in 4-part harmony. The greater part of our music is accompanied; mainly by keyboard, but we are delighted to also have the use of a two-manual pipe organ designed and built in 1964 by J.W. Walker and Sons.
Our weekly commitment is to the Sunday 11:00 Mass and we usually sing four hymns, the psalm and an additional piece after communion. We also lead singing the Mass, (Kyrie, Gloria, Sanctus and Agnus Dei) once or twice a month; normally this is in English, but sometimes in Latin.
The specific hymns and pieces are chosen to reflect the theme of the Mass while striking a balance between congregational familiarity and extending our repertoire.
We join with the Folk Choir to support the major celebrations like the Easter Triduum, the annual Advent/Christmas Carol Service, First Holy Communions and Confirmations, and are sometimes asked to provide music for weddings, baptisms and funerals.
The choir currently has twelve regular members and rehearses every Thursday at 19:30 in the Church for about an hour. None of us is a professional musician and not all of us read music; however, we are always pleased to welcome new members and are indeed actively seeking them. So if you are interested in helping to improve and expand the musical life of Holy Cross, or simply just interested in singing, please come to the choir loft after 11.00 Mass or contact Andrew if you wish to know more about us.
Andrew Theobald – Choirmaster
NB: If you are having a mass said for a relative or friend or a personal intention at 11.00 on a Sunday morning and have a particular hymn that you would like to be sung, please contact Andrew Theobald to discuss.
Contact: Andrew Theobald onT: 020 8715 2337 or M: 07850 528467 or E: redtheo@aol.com.
