The choir

Founded about one hundred and fifty years ago as an all male choir,
adult women were admitted in the 1960's and girls in the late 1980's.
The musical establishment at St. Margaret's reflects what would, until
the 1960's, have been the norm for town centre parish churches up and down the country i.e. a large(ish) choir, led by a professional organist and choirmaster assisted by an amateur organist.

The choir provides music at the 11.00am and 6.30pm services each Sunday but for historical reasons the evening service is the main choir service. Evensong is sung in the parish style - chanted with an anthem but several times a year we sing a fully choral Evensong.

In addition the choir has the usual round of "specials" such as the Annual Carol Service and a Passiontide event each Palm Sunday. The children of the Choir and a few adults also sing at weddings throughout the summer.

The choir is affiliated to, and actively involved in the work of, the Royal School of Church Music. Choristers from St. Margaret's have gained a great deal of experience singing regularly in Cathedrals all over the south and east of England as part of various RSCM choirs and, in recent years, some members have attended residential courses at Ely, Canterbury, Hereford and Brecon Cathedrals and Westminster Abbey.

The Choir is, perhaps, unique amongst our church organisations in that it encompasses, as full members, those of all ages from within the church family. For the choir, children are not merely a group that needs to be accommodated but a vital part of its membership without
whom there is little or no future. The most junior probationer is just as much part of the choir as our longest serving adult member.

Choir Adult - Friday 7:30pm - 8:30pm Junior (8+) - Friday 6:30 - 7:30