Music

Music at High Cross services is varied and supported by both a Choir and Singing Group. The Choir attempts to maintain the tradition of 4-part harmony singing of the more traditional hymns and anthems while the Singing Group helps to lead the modern hymns and songs, largely drawn from ‘Songs of Fellowship’. However, there is some overlap between the two and increasingly the two groups are offering support to each other. Both groups would welcome new members, most particularly tenors and basses for the Choir. There is a well-stocked music cupboard and we are open to music and liturgies drawn from a wide background. Music is seen as an activity with few barriers and as a way of drawing people into the Church - as well as for the enrichment of the worship of the church - and from time to time the Choir and/or Singing Group will lead a complete service often with the benefit of additional invited singers and accompanists.

There are two (electronic) organs – a three-manual Allen organ in the sanctuary upstairs and a Wyvern two-manual instrument in the chapel on the ground floor. We have, currently, two regular organists who share the rota, but we have contact with a number of external musicians whom we can, and do, draw upon to fill in gaps and to provide extra accompaniment as required. We have also a Technics keyboard and a small grand piano which are used where keyboard accompaniment is felt to be more appropriate for supporting the singing. Here again, new musicians would be welcomed. In addition we have a drum-kit and other pianos and instruments available for playing.

The sanctuary is particularly well suited as a venue for a wide variety of concerts, both of an instrumental and vocal nature, and is frequently used by external organisations such as the Surrey Heath Choral Society, with whom we have strong links. Members of High Cross also organise concerts both of an ‘internal’ and ‘external’ nature such as organ recitals, choral events, home-grown DIY evenings and even jazz concerts, with the proceeds being divided between church funds and external charities.  Fortnightly on Saturday mornings, there is live music in the Concourse provided, in the main, by High Cross folk.

The Choir