|
| |
|
Church Music
If you are using a
sound-enabled computer you will be listening to the hymn tune, Bow
Brickhill composed by the Sir Sydney Nicholson and arranged by John
Close.
For an architectural tour of the
church click here
|
|
All Saints Church has a long
choral tradition. In 1847 Thomas
Webster, a member of the Cranbrook
Colony, painted his famous
picture, "A Village Choir" using the Church for his
setting and Bow Brickhill residents as the characters.
|
| The original picture now hangs in the Victoria
and Albert Museum as part of
the Sheepshanks Collection. Copies can be obtained from
the V&A - click here for
further information. The taller girl in the straw bonnet
is thought to have been Lavinia Wootton. Click
here for a photo of Lavinia in later life.
|
|
|
|
Sydney H Nicholson,
founder of the School of English Church Music now The
Royal School of Church Music,
inherited Harley House - No. 7, Church Road.
As Organist and
Choirmaster of Westminster Abbey in 1923 he brought his
choristers to the village to attend summer Scout Camp.. The boys
would sing outside each evening and were in great demand to
visit neighbouring parishes.
|
|
The
27th
anniversary of the current choir, Easter Day 2008 |
|
In 1925 Dr Nicholson, as he then
was, received a knighthood. He left a wealth of church music, including
settings of the Communion Service (one of which is sung occasionally by Bow Brickhill Church Choir), he re-set the
psalms to produce the Parish Psalter and composed many hymn tunes
including 'Bow Brickhill'.
There has been a choir on and off at the church for a great number of
years. You can see past choirs
here and here. |
The St James Singers and the
church choir in concert June 2004
|
|
The choir on Advent Sunday December 2002
|
All Saints Church Choir sings at
services on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Sunday of each month and, although
small, is very enthusiastic. Choir practice takes place on Monday
evenings at 7.30 pm. New recruits are always welcome please contact Sue
Malleson, Tel 01908 372376.
For other
local choirs see British
Choirs on the Net. |
|
Sometimes we even sing 'on the move' - as we did
on Palm Sunday, April 2004 .. click here
for more pictures. |
Palm Sunday April 2004
|
For historical and general information about
the church click here. For an
architectural tour click here.
|
|
