The choir

Our choir leads the singing at the 10am service on Sundays and we have an annual Carol Service which is led by the choir. At present there are 8 regular choir members, all of whom are adults. We are fairly informal and wear red robes at most services, but more formal black cassocks and surplices are worn at funerals and occasional special formal services.

New members are always welcome to the choir. We do not have auditions and neither do we have regular practices. If a new piece of music has been introduced or a special service is in the offing, we practice on a Saturday morning or immediately after the Sunday morning service.

The music

At most services we sing traditional hymns from Hymns New and Old. The installation of a modern audio-visual system has enabled us to introduce hymns and worship songs which are not in the hymn book and to use recorded music during talks or throughout the service if no-one is available to play the organ or piano. We hope to extend our repertoire of songs using this system.

Our organist

We were blessed to have the services of Jean White as organist for over 70 years until the Autumn of 2025. Since then, George Gorniak has assumed the role of organist. He usually plays at 3 services a month, while George and Mary Gorniak play the piano and flute respectively on the fourth Sunday of the month. George also plays the keyboard when we have our morning worship in the Village Hall. We have occasional visiting organists and are always looking for musicians to assist with our worship.

The organ

The organ was built in 1925 by Wm Hill and Son and Norman Beard Ltd. London. It was restored in 1993 following an appeal to the congregation.

The organ, which replaces the original hand pumped instrument, was built by William Hill & Son, and Norman & Beard of London. The two manual organ was installed in 1925 at a cost of £1535. It was paid for by a parishioner, Mr Lewis N H Bailey, who then lived at Highercombe.

The organist was overhauled in 1993 with funds raised by the congregation under the leadership of the then organist Jean White. The overhaul which cost some £8000 and took more than six weeks to complete, was entirely funded through concerts, dinners and the generosity of the congregation. The fund raising exceeded the sum required and so a fund for future maintenance was also established.

The organ is registered on the National Pipe Organ Register N13722

The carved angel above the organ is by Axel Haig, as is the smaller angel to the right of the organist's bench.