Music for May

The month of May leads up to the great feast of Pentecost, fifty days after Easter when we celebrate the gift of God’s Holy Spirit. Throughout the month our hymns reflect the joys of Easter and the eager anticipation of Pentecost.

May 20^th Seventh Sunday of Easter (Sunday after Ascension Day) ‘As you have sent me into the world, so I send them into the world’

Choral Introit - If we love me Thomas Tallis

Choral Anthem - The Lord ascendeth up on high OBFA 55a Michael Praetorius

May 27^th  Pentecost  ‘When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth’

Choral Introit - Spirit of the living God

Choral Anthem -  Like the murmur of the dove’s song  OBFA 35 Alan Smith

Meet the Choir

Gorgeous little village church with a gorgeous choir! - by Vicky Newham

Before Christmas I joined the choir at St Andrew’s church in Coulsdon. On Sunday 1st February, I was officially ‘admitted’ to the choir in a lovely ceremony at the start of the Sunday morning service. I am sharing this story because I think that it might be of interest to other people living in Coulsdon. Having lived here for six years, I have walked past St Andrew’s numerous times and always thought that it’s a gorgeous, little ‘village church’.

In December, I went to a couple of Sunday services, which I thoroughly enjoyed, but I kept looking at the choir and thinking “I want to be singing with them”. So, I plucked up my courage to ask the choir master if he needed any new members. I was very nervous because I had not sung formally in a choir for years, and also because I can only read music a little. However, I love singing, I listen to music all the time, and I seem to be able to pick it up. So, I hoped that this would be enough!  I joined the choir at a busy time: we had the carol service, and we sang carols at two residential homes in Coulsdon in addition to the normal services. What fun this was! I was away at Christmas, and whilst I had a lovely time in Whitstable, I was a little sad to miss singing in the Christmas services, especially midnight mass.

If anyone is thinking of joining a church choir, don’t be put off if you cannot read music, or haven’t sung for a while. I have found the choir to be incredibly friendly and helpful, and this has encouraged me to persevere - and to start teaching myself to read music properly. Having mixed with the congregation on numerous occasions now, I can still say that I think that St Andrew’s is a gorgeous little village church! If anyone feels inspired, you can contact John Woodhouse, Director of Music. 

Email:  info@standrews.coulsdon.net