Music
Music
St. John's Music Commission meets regularly to discuss the best ways to promote the music of the church in order to meet the varied needs of the congregation in their worship. Diversity is our strength, and it is precisely because our experiences of music are so varied that we hope to meet these many needs. We aim to offer music as an aid to worship in services as varied as Choral Evensong, through to Taize or the Praise Services, in addition to our regular Sunday services.
The Music Commission consists of six members. At present this includes the music coordinator, the organist, the guitarist from the music group, one choir member and two singers who sing in both the music group and the St. John's Voices and who represent congregation members.
We recognise that people's response to different kinds of music in worship and how this deepens their relationship with God, is very varied in a congregation which holds all age groups and all musical tastes. For this reason we have:
Organ
We have a wonderful working organ and our own organist, which means we can worship God through the singing of traditional and modern hymns.
The organ was built by Peter Conacher & Co and was initially installed in a cinema, before being transferred to St. John's in 1955. The organ is listed in the National Pipe Organ Register.
Music Group
Instrumentalists and singers who play from parts, giving a mini "Songs of Praise" type of accompaniment to modern songs from "The Source", under the direction of the music coordinator. Individual musicians also play independently at other services as the need arises, e.g. a soloist at a Lent reflection, or keyboard with wind instrument for a "Taizé" service.
St. John's Voices
St. John's Voices are a group of four-part harmony singers who rehearse for occasional services under the direction of the organist. One of the strengths of this group is that it brings non-Church members into Church.
