Edenbridge Parish Church is proud of its long established choral tradition, which can be traced back over hundreds of years. The Choir has always been at the centre of Church life. Today the Choir still maintains extremely high standards and provides an important role in the context of the Parish Church services. We are also affiliated to the Royal School of Church Music (RSCM).

When do we sing?

Every Sunday the Choir sings two services at Edenbridge.

Sunday morning services take the form of Family Eucharist, with the choir singing a motet during the communion, as well as leading the congregation in the hymn and service singing. In the evening there is a traditional Anglican Evensong service, with hymns, a psalm, canticles and a choral anthem. Regular Festal Evensongs provide the opportunity to sing more challenging anthems, introits and canticle settings.

In addition, the Choir also provides music at Weddings and occasional Special Services either at Edenbridge or at other venues.

Around the major Christian festivals, the Choir is very active with such services as The Nine Lessons and Carols, Midnight Mass and an extended choral offering for Palm Sunday and compline during Holy Week.

What does the choir offer?

It is unfortunate that good church choirs are a rarity these days in many parts of the country. Edenbridge can be proud that it maintains music making of a high standard all the year round.

Anyone joining the Choir gets a free musical education and training in vocal technique, choral singing and the Anglican Church Music tradition. The Choir welcomes anyone to its ranks who enjoys singing and who is prepared to give the commitment required.

The choir is also active socially with the annual dinner and summer barbecue being regular dates on the calendar.

The Junior choir

Each junior chorister follows a course of music training (using the RSCM’s Voice for Life scheme) as part of their membership of the choir, which will equip them with the skills they need to contribute fully to the accomplished and high standard of music making which the Choir maintains.

The choristers wear different coloured ribbons, which denote the standard they have achieved. When a young person joins the Choir, they become a probationer while they learn the rudiments of singing in a choir. Thereafter they move through a structured program where they can gain their surplice, then medals. Alongside these a chorister can opt for externally examined awards.

The junior choristers are paid for their service to the Choir according to their attendance and the standard they have achieved within the voice for life scheme.

We we would be delighted to welcome some new young choristers so anyone interested should contact the assistant choir director to find out more at fiona.glidewell@gmail.com

Practice times

Junior practice is on Friday nights from 6.45pm to 7.30pm.

Practice night is Friday from 7.30 pm to 9.00 pm.

There is also a short practice at 5.45 pm on Sunday before evensong