St Mary’s has a strong musical tradition. A four part choir sings each Sunday at both morning and evening services as well as on feast days and for other special events. The church is especially
notable for its fine, three manual, tracker organ.
— Join Us For Sunday Services
St Mary's Church Choir
St Mary’s has a committed choir, which practises every Friday evening and before main services. We sing a wide repertoire of sacred music from the Renaissance period to the present day and we welcome new members without audition. Members of the choir should be comfortable reading music to some degree because of the varied music sung weekly, but if you are interested in joining us, please contact the church office.
We are delighted to welcome Henry Metcalfe as our new Director of Music. Henry is an organist and choral director based in London. He was raised in Lichfield, where he held an organ scholarship at the cathedral followed by scholarships at Clifton College, Bristol Cathedral and Hereford Cathedral. Most recently, Henry has been Organ Scholar at St Mary’s, Bourne Street. Henry says:
‘I am honoured to have been selected as the next Director of Music of St Mary’s. I look forward to working with the choir, and other musicians, to sustain and further the rich musical tradition of the church, as well as the wider St Mary’s mission.’
Taizé
Several times each year we have an evening service in the style of the Christian Community at Taizé in France. Short songs, repeated again and again, give it a meditative character.
Our next services in this style will be announced as soon as we are able.
We welcome instrumentalists to play at these services – strings and wind! Please get in touch with the church office about a week before, if you would like to contribute.
Joyful Voices
Joyful Voices is the name of St Mary’s junior choir, which sings at Sunday morning services during term time and at occasional special services throughout the year alongside the adult choir. We rehearse on Sunday morning 9:00-9:30 ahead of the main service, and choristers receive expert instruction in vocal technique as they are exposed to a wide range of choral repertoire. Choristers are also enrolled in the Royal Schools of Church Music medals programme, Voice for Life. Choristers are accepted from the age of 6.
The church organ
The Organ was built after the fire in 1969, by Grant, Degens and Bradbeer Ltd. of Northampton, who have also built instruments for New College, Oxford and the University of York. It is a tracker-action organ with a light, clear sound, comprising three manuals and thirty-two speaking stops.
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Music at St Mary's
St Mary’s is home to regular concerts and music making. We have hosted the East London Music Festival and welcomed choirs, orchestras and organ players from the UK and abroad. Information about our next concerts will be published here and on our Facebook page.