- Screen Colours:
- Normal
- Black & Yellow
St Mary’s Church Choir Register. (1952 onwards).
Very detailed attendance and payment records of the male only choir (when did that change?) when an average of 20 men and boys sang at each service. The fees earned as recently as the 1960’s were 3d for a Friday practice, 6d per service and 2/6d per wedding. Total cost to the church averaged £5 per quarter.
A stern instruction to choir members included ‘collars and cuffs should be kept clean’.
The church does not pay todays choir which comprises predominantly female members, however additional wedding fees are specifically paid to choristers by some couples to assist at their ceremonies.
The standard and style of music has varied considerably over the years anthems, psalms, sung responses and traditional hymns being the staple twentieth century diet, supplemented now with modern hymns and songs.
The muniment room contains records of the choir performing at concerts including in London’s St, Paul’s Cathedral. Mid twentieth century recordings for radio and TV and notably for an episode of the popular Songs of Praise are archived here.
N.B. To view any document or image in a seperate tab, just click on the image.
The Choir Register
Page updated - 27/09/2024
WAVE check. No errors detected.