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 both Canterbury Christ Church University and the University of Kent. 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. The ability to read music with confidence is recommended as new music is being learned and performed on a weekly basis. We especially encourage interest from young people. 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 2024
- January 21st – Theme: St Paul
Guest Preacher: The Dean of Canterbury - February 18th – Theme: Julian of Norwich
Guest Preacher: Dr Claire Gilbert, Author - March 17th – Theme: Jesus’ Passion
Guest Preacher: The Revd Dr Jeremy Law, Dean of Chapel CCCU - May 19th – Theme: Gifts of the Spirit
Guest Preacher: The Revd Lindsay Yates, Diocesan Generous Giving Advisor - June 16th – Theme: Education
Guest Preacher: The Revd Dawn Watson, Chaplain of Archbishop’s School, Canterbury - July 21st – Theme: Theology
Guest Preacher: The Revd Michael Darkins, Vicar of St Leonard’s Hythe - September 15th – Theme: Holy Cross
Guest Preacher: TBC, Priest of Boughton under Blean - October 20th – Theme: Bible Sunday
Guest Preacher: TBC - November 17th – Theme: St Cecilia
Guest Preacher: TBC
The Choir Director
Dom del Nevo has directed the Choir since September 2009. He is a graduate of the University of Kent, and has sung with various church choirs from an early age. He has previously sung with the Berkshire Boys Choir, Berkshire Youth Choir, the University of Kent Chamber Choir (which he also conducted) and the University of Kent Chorus.
He does various freelance singing and conducting in the area, and has links with choirs in Kent, London and Berkshire.
Dom del Nevo can be contacted on 07753 336648 or by sending an email via the Contact Us Page. He can be found on Twitter at @domdelnevo.
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.