St. Wilfrid's Church Choir plays an important part in the life and worship of the Parish. It is a robed choir, which sings every Sunday Morning at the Sung Eucharist Service and at Choral Evensong on the second Sunday of each month (except August). In addition, it also takes part in Sung Eucharists on Festival Days such as Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday and Ascension Day, as well as Weddings and Funerals when required. 

The music we sing is largely traditional with wider use of worship songs at Family Service on the third Sunday of each month.  Although the hymn book currently in use is ‘Hymns old and New’ published by Kevin Mayhew, the Choir takes the music from The English Hymnal if the original harmony is preferred.  The psalms are usually sung to Anglican Chant with occasional use of Responsorial Psalms. 

The Choir sings an anthem during Communion and also at Choral Evensong.  In October 2004 the Choir sang Evensong in Chichester Cathedral.  

Choir Practice is held every Friday Evening (except during school holidays) from 5.30 - 7.00pm. We are fortunate in having a choir trainer and an organist so that for the first part of practice the Junior and Senior Choirs work separately coming together in church for the last 45 minutes.

The Choir consists of  31 Choristers (including organist and choir trainer) and is made up of 15 Trebles/Sopranos, (13 of whom are under 18 years of age) 4 Altos, 1 Counter Tenor, 6 Tenors and 5 Basses.  There are three vacancies at the moment and we are currently seeking to fill them with 2 children (boys or girls) and one tenor. 

The Choir is affiliated to the Royal School of Church Music and members of the Junior Choir are encouraged to follow its Training Scheme. Choristers under the age of 18 are eligible to enter for the locally awarded Dean's and Bishop's Awards (Chichester Diocese). Candidates work to a required syllabus and are then examined by a Diocesan Appointed Examiner. For some years now, members of our Choir have entered for these examinations, which are held twice a year.

 Current membership of the Choir shows three Dean's Choristers and four Bishop's Choristers, plus one who gained the Junior St. Cecilia’s Award and one with the Adult St. Cecilia’s Award which was awarded by the RSCM.  We also have one junior and one adult chorister who have gained the Silver Award which is also awarded by the RSCM.  

At various times during the year, all members of the Choir attend Courses run by the R.S.C.M. These enable them to gain expertise and widen their repertoire. Most of our Juniors have attended 2/3-Day Courses and several have been on Residential Courses. The generosity of the Parochial Church Council makes this possible by paying the Course Fees either in whole or in part.

In addition to this, the Choir presents a concert approximately every eighteen months where it sings music that is very different from that which is sung on a Sunday!

Helen Woods

For further information contact: Helen Woods  01243 861620 or by email

A recording by the St. Wilfrid's Choir