Our Benefice Churches are full of music! The Benefice is affiliated to the Royal School of Church Music and has a wide range of volunteer musicians who are prepared to use their gifts in support of our worship.
St John’s Church, Hook, has a wide variety of music in our 10am services. We have a robed choir, a music group and a number of individuals who play the organ, piano, various instruments or lead our singing.
Heckfield, Mattingley and Rotherwick Churches all enjoy music from our team of organists and also from visiting musicians.
St John’s Church Choir
St John’s Church Choir is a 4 part SATB choir with around 20 regular members, expanding with added guests for festival services. They usually lead the singing on 2 Sundays of the month, including the Sung Eucharist service which takes place at 10am on the 4th Sunday of every month. They are also available to support wedding or funeral services in the Benefice churches if desired.
Music from a variety of styles is sung, from plainsong through to modern worship music, both accompanied and unaccompanied. Those choir members who wish to do so have an opportunity to gain awards from the Royal School of Church Music awards schemes.
The Junior Choir rehearse 7.15-8.15pm on Fridays and the Senior Choir join them from 7:45pm until 9pm (often followed by a social gathering).
If you have a Junior who is in at least school year 3 and might be interested in singing, you can find more information about Junior Choir in this leaflet.
New adult members are also welcome, whether experienced or not - there is no audition. If you are interested in singing with the choir, in the first instance talk to our Choir Director, Caroline Bushman on (07734) 667888.
Members of St John's Choir who sang at the Carol Service in December 2023.
This recording is 'Day by Day' based on words of St Richard's Prayer, arranged by Stephen Davies and sung by the Choir of St John the Evangelist, Hook. ©Stephen Davies.
The Music Group
At our more informal services, the music is led by our music group. This is usually at the All Age Worship and the 3rd Sunday Morning Worship at St John's. This can include a variety of instruments - piano, guitar, vocals, flute, clarinet, recorder, violin etc - any instrument is welcome!
Some of the Music Group in February 2023.
If you are interested in joining our Music Group, in the first instance talk to Nikki on (07766) 004964.
Organists
The Benefice Churches have a number of organists who play for our services, coordinated by our Parish Organists - Stephen Davies (Hook) and Richard Joyce (Heckfield, Mattingley and Rotherwick). They can both be contacted through the Benefice Office.
Richard recently celebrated his 30 year anniversary of being an organist within the Benefice
The Chorister's Prayer
