Music
Music plays a vital part in the life and worship of the Parish of St. Martin and St. Paul Canterbury, particulary at
St Paul’s Church.
The Choir
At the heart of our musical activity and regular Sunday worship is the church choir, a talented and experienced group of mixed voices. Its voluntary membership is drawn from the local community, including schools and universities. The choir has a wide repertoire ranging from early to contemporary music, and sings at the Sunday morning Eucharist at 10.30, as well as monthly Choral Evensong and other seasonal services.
The choir also takes part in local Royal School of Church Music and Deanery events, has performed at various Cathedrals (including Canterbury, Chichester, Rochester, Southwark, St Paul’s Cathedral, and St Alban’s Abbey), and makes a regular pilgrimage to Ypres, participating in the Last Post ceremony held under the Menin Gate.
The choir welcomes interest from all singers. For adults, the ability to read music with confidence is strongly recommended as new music is being learned and performed on a weekly basis. We especially encourage interest from young people, with or without choral experience. The choir rehearses in the Church on Friday evenings from 7.30 pm (7pm for the youngest members), and often congregate in the New Inn after choir practice. The choir is a gregarious entity and holds regular social events. If you would like to know more about the choir, or are interested in taking part, please contact the Choir Director, Dom del Nevo (see below).
Choral Evensong & Supper
Held on the third Sunday of the month at 5pm, Choral Evensong & Supper is a very special service comprised of three parts: Full Sung Choral Evensong lead by our ministers and choir: a guest preacher followed by supper and fellowship in the Parish Centre next door.
Around 60 of us come from across the area, of different ages and different church backgrounds to listen to this most ancient of services from the Book of Common Prayer and King James Bible. It is a time to bring your worries to God, to prepare for the week ahead and find good Christian company. Along with the music, the highlights our interesting and diverse guest preachers. Drinks and Supper are served afterward for all who wish. There is no fixed charge for the food and donations instead operates on a ‘pay as you are able’ basis.
Not held in April, August or December.
The Book of Common Prayer is seeing a real revival in churches across the country. New generations are discovering the beauty, depth and majesty of these words, many through services of Choral Evensong such as in St Paul’s Canterbury
Evensong & Supper Programme 2025
- January 19th – Theme: St Timothy & Titus
Guest Preacher: The Revd Paulette Stubbings, St Alphege Seasalter - February 16th – Theme: Wrestling with God
Guest Preacher: The Revd Dr Steve Horne, Curate of Ashford Town - March 16th – Theme: Cranmer & The Prayer Book
Guest Preacher: Fr Thomas Sander, Rector of St Giles-in-the-Fields - May 18th – Theme: The Blessed Virgin Mary – an icon of our time?
“Guest” Preacher: The Revd Dr Mary Kells, Rector of St Martin & St Paul’s - June 15th – Theme: St Thomas Becket
Guest Preacher: Fr Giovanni Prandini, Assistant priest St Thomas’ RC, Canterbury - July 20th – Theme: Isaac Watts & Hymns
Guest Preacher: The Revd Dr Jonathan Arnold, Singer and CEO of Social Justice Network - September 21st – Theme: St Eanswythe
Guest Preacher: Fr Christopher Johnson, Vicar of St Mary and St Easnwythe, Folkestone - October 19th – Theme: TBC
Guest Preacher: TBC - November 16th – Theme: TBC
Guest Preacher: TBC
The Choir Director
Dom del Nevo has directed the Choir since September 2009. He started singing in church choirs aged 7, and has sung with various church and secular choirs for over thirty years in Berkshire, Kent and London. He now sings regularly with Canterbury Cantata and New Gloriana Choir; with the latter, he is currently on a mission to sing in every cathedral in England and Wales. He also does some freelance singing and conducting, and is particularly keen on “one-per-part” groups, whether it be Renaissance polyphony or barbershop quartets.
Outside of choral music, he is a graduate of the University of Kent and works in the pensions industry.
Dom del Nevo can be contacted on 07753 336648 or domdelnevo@gmail.com.
The Organist at St Paul’s
David Rees-Williams began his musical career as a chorister at New College Oxford, where the rich variety of musical styles performed by choir and organ were to make strong and lasting impressions. From there he won the top music scholarship to Cranleigh School where he studied piano, oboe & organ. He studied at The Royal College of Music from 1979 and graduated from there with a B.Mus (Hons) in 1981. While still a student, he held posts as organist at two London churches. He then worked at the King’s School Canterbury as a piano teacher for 20 years.
Alongside his Organ and Piano playing at St Paul’s he works as a freelance musician particularly in his concert work with his trio, and as a soloist on piano and organ, he teaches piano and organ privately in Canterbury.
If anyone is interested in playing the organ we are always looking for cover for vacation times and have a rota of local organists with whom we enjoy working. Please contact Dom for further information.