Bath Abbey is starting choral services again! From Sunday 4th October, you’ll be able to join the choir (albeit smaller than usual) online or in person for Choral Evensong.
This month – September 2020 – the Abbey Choir is singing at the 10.15am Sunday Eucharist, and from October, Choral Evensong will be at 4.30pm each Sunday.
The Abbey is planning to record music for Remembrance and for the Advent and Christmas carol services to enable a wider congregation and audience to be part of these popular occasions.
A spokesperson told Bath Newseum: ‘At the moment only small choirs are permitted, which is why we are currently having to restrict the number of choristers during rehearsals as well as services. Our hope is to have the full choir back singing together as soon as it is practical and safe to do so.’
Huw Williams, Bath Abbey’s Director of Music, said: “We were delighted to have a choir of 10 singers at the Abbey yesterday singing at public worship for the first time since March. It was a very joyful moment to be part of this. We are gradually opening the choirs, with rehearsals and services in smaller groups at present and it is wonderful to see the boys, girls and lay-clerks returning to working together. During the lockdown we have been sharing videos online and have received many comments and messages of grateful thanks for the music. In turn, we would like to thank everyone for their lovely messages, patience and continued support of our choir.”
Revd Canon Guy Bridgewater, Rector of Bath Abbey said “To begin welcoming back our choirs is truly to welcome back Joy, and a sense of God’s Glory filling the Abbey once again. Behind our facemasks the rest of us may not be allowed to sing with our voices just yet, but we will certainly sing with our spirits – and with smiles unrestrained!”
Congregation numbers for the Sunday 10.15am Eucharist and 4.30pm Choral Evensong services are currently limited to enable the Abbey to keep everyone as safe as possible. So, to be sure of a seat people are encouraged to register online on the church’s Eventbrite page. Tickets are free and will be available on the Monday preceding the day of the service.
I have badly missed singing in my choir (Lucis) but hopefully we will be able to re-convene in a few months.