The primary role of a church choir is to lead the congregation in worship, by supporting congregational singing of hymns and sung parts of the liturgy, and to enhance the worship experience by singing anthems and other special music with texts that support the readings and themes of the Sundays of the church year. The poetry and music of hymns and anthems speak to the heart as well as the mind.

The high quality of our music program has attracted some newcomers and visitors and is one of the reasons people may decide to make St. George’s their church home.   Sometimes the choir itself may be the point of entry for someone who has enjoyed singing in a choral group in the past and is looking for a place to sing.

The adult choir practices once a week on Thursday evening and an hour before the 10:30 AM service on Sunday morning, and before special services.

But a funny thing happens after you’ve sung in the choir for a while. What may have started as a fairly low-level commitment to singing on a regular schedule can become a transformative experience. You’re not just a singer in a choir. You’re part of a vital small group of people who know you and care about you, and notice when you are missing. You may start attending church services more often just because you have to be there to sing but find yourself more spiritually engaged in worship, more committed to your faith, and a more active member in other aspects of the congregation.

Sometimes during the worship service, a group of people may be asked to come forward to be thanked, or commissioned, or introduced (for example leadership teams, volunteers for a particular project, the Vestry).   It is not unusual to see three or four people in choir robes in any such group of lay leaders. It’s not so much that choir members are being recruited for those roles as that the regular attendance involved in singing in the choir can develop singers into active members and leaders.

St. George’s also has an exciting youth music program, which has become a magnet for young families. The church is hopping early Thursday evening as parents and siblings gather for pizza and fellowship while children attend one of multiple rehearsals scheduled back to back.   Pizza delivery reduces the stress of getting children fed and to practice, while providing an excellent opportunity for parents to socialize. Singing in the children’s choir is so attractive that at least one family may have used it as an incentive to expedite toilet training.

Excellent music has been an important part of our worship tradition at Saint George’s from the earliest days.   Hedley Williams, rector for many years in the mid twentieth century, was a skilled organist in his own right. He insisted that the congregation sing heartily and partnered closely with long-time Music director Richardson Dougall. Hedley was the rector when our current sanctuary was built and organ installed. The free-standing altar was very progressive at the time and if you dig deep into our files of choir music, you will find that the choir in the 1950’s was singing contemporary musical literature of the time.

In the past forty years the subsequent three rectors and three music directors have supported and sustained a challenging musical program that has consistently attracted and incorporated new members and been a vital part of who we are.