MUSIC
MUSIC
St. Edward’s Church Choir has been affiliated to the Royal School of Church Music since 1946. Its aim is to maintain the long tradition and high standard of Anglican Church Music.
St. Edward’s Church has a fine tradition of choral music with its choir making a unique contribution to the weekly worship
CHOIRS AT ST. EDWARD'S CHURCH
Choristers (trebles) are the Girls and Boys who are divided into Teams, each with its own leader. There are regular practices each week in term time:
Mondays: 5.00 - 6.00 pm
Fridays: 6.15 - 8.30 pm (with a break)
Adults: Altos, Tenors and Basses rehearse on Fridays: 7.30 - 9.00 pm.
The main sung services on Sundays are at 10.00 am (Sung Eucharist) and 6.00 pm (Choral Evensong) with rehearsals beforehand at 9.25 am and 5.10pm respectively.
In addition to the Sunday choral services the choir regularly sings at cathedrals, most recently St Paul's, Westminster Abbey, Chelmsford and Hereford.
The church choir plays a major role in the annual choral concert at St Edward's performing some of the major choral repertoire with professional soloists and orchestra.
St. Edward's Church Choir at Hereford Cathedral 2019
'Gloria' from Herbert Sumsion's Evening Canticles in G
JOINING ST. EDWARD'S CHOIR
In order to maintain the fine choral tradition at St. Edward's Church in Romford, the Choirs rely on the continuing recruitment of boys and girls aged between seven and ten to train as choristers.
Altos, Tenors and Basses who are competent sight readers and have had some previous experience are welcome to apply for membership.
Please speak to our Director of Music, Mr Gary Cheung for more information about joining the choir.
Email Contact: music@stedwardsromford.com
MUSIC SOCIETY
St. Edward's Music Society was formed in 1979 initially to raise funds for completion of the Walker organ. The society gained charity status in 1999 with its main objective to promote music making in the community and to support local performers, giving them an opportunity to perform in public. A long-established highlight is the annual choral concert where the adults and children of the church choir, and other local singers, are able to share the stage with professional soloists and orchestra.
The society is affiliated and connected via its constitution as part of St. Edward's Church with the Vicar as its President and Jonathan Venner as Music Director.
Membership is open to all through the annual subscription concert series. The concerts offer a very wide selection of music, performed by outstanding artists.
Single Membership: £55 per series (6 concerts)
Family Membership (2 adults and children under 18 years of age): £80 per series
Please email music@stedwardsromford.com to request further details and application form.
ORGAN
An Organ by J.W. Walker & Sons was installed in the church in 1866 on the north side of the Choir. Before 1866 it is possible that the organ from the old church was in use. The Walker organ was rebuilt in 1905 by Henry Speechly & Sons, but by the 1970s it was in need of major reconstruction and overhaul.
In 1978 a new organ was commissioned, once again from J.W. Walker. This instrument incorporates the best pipe work from the old organ and now stands on the west gallery where it can be heard to full advantage. This instrument was designed by the organ builders so that the west window and the casework could complement each other. The new organ was inaugurated on Easter Day 1979. However, four ranks of pipes were only ‘prepared for' and following a period of fundraising the instrument was cleaned and completed in April 1994. Work is now underway for a clean and overhaul along with the replacement of some pipework and possible electrification of the draw stop action in order to facilitate organists in both service accompaniment and recitals and to mark the 40th anniversary of the initial installation.
The organ plays an important role in the worship and musical tradition of the St. Edward’s in accompanying and leading the singing. In addition, the instrument is a fine example of a 'mechanical action' classical organ and is often heard at its best in organ recitals and other orchestral concerts.
The Flower - Alec Roth
