St John's Festival Choir

The Festival Choir was founded in 1963 by Cuthbert Bates to sing at the Centenary celebrations of the church. From then on, it has sung on all the major Church Festivals each year - hence its name. It sings Mass approximately twelve times a year, with the addition of the Good Friday Service and the Candlelit Festival of Carols and readings on the Sunday before Christmas. The present conductor is Elizabeth Bates, daughter of the Founder.

Until 2004, St John's had a strong, unbroken tradition of Plainchant, fostered initially by the Benedictines until they left in 1937. Plainchant was then carried on by musical lay members of the parish. Since Mass times were changed and the number of Masses reduced in 2004, plainchant is still sung occasionally by the Sunday Choir which was formed around this time. St John's Festival Choir sings mostly sixteenth century polyphonic Masses and Motets as this music sprang from the original Plainchant idiom - the foundation of Catholic music. On occasions it also sings in a more modern style.

For the Festival Choir programme of music for the current year, click here.
( PDF 10kB, opens in a new window).

The choir numbers about 25 and as well as parishioners, members travel from some distances to sing with them. It is open to all who love to sing polyphonic music, whatever their creed, and they are not averse to having social occasions as well!

Rehearsals are on Tuesday evenings at 7.45 p.m. in the Parish Hall and new singers will always receive a warm welcome. For more information please email etbates@lineone.net.