24-hour music marathon successfully held to raise funds for St Wulfram’s Church choir in Grantham
A 24-hour music marathon arranged by St Wulfram’s Church was successfully held over the weekend to raise funds for its choir.
There was music and singing by members of the church and choristers throughout the night in St Wulfram’s from 5.15pm on Friday until 5.15pm on Saturday.
So far about £2,500 has been raised from the event to go towards the church choir’s residency in St David’s Cathedral in Wales from August 1 to 6.
The programme began with Choral Evensong, and continued with the choir’s regular practices for the choristers and adult singers. At 9.15pm the church’s teenage youth choir began ten hours of continuous music, including a livestreamed offering of an hour of ‘Music by Candlelight’ in the late evening.
Music continued, offered by a three-piece band featuring youth choir members The Three Wheeled Bicycle. Members of the youth choir kept music sounding through the night and into the early hours, including a complete sing through Benjamin Britten’s Ceremony of Carols at 3.30am. Their stint ended just after 7am, when they sang a piece at the church west door.
At 7am, assistant director of music Tim Selman offered a continuous two hours of organ music, before open public performances began at 9am. Rosemary Field provided an hour of organ music, followed by an hour of music theatre songs offered by Elaine Bishop (mezzo soprano).
The day continued with three hours of choral music – at 11am, the boy and girl choristers of St Wulfram’s Church, directed by Tim Williams, then at 12pm the adult choir offered Faure’s Requiem directed by Tim Selman, followed at 1pm by the newly formed St Wulfram’s Community Choir giving its debut performance, and leading public hymn singing in church.
Further performances followed, including chorister Allara Campbell (drums), choral scholars Holly Riordan (cello) and Samuel Davie (baritone), and adult choir member Professor Ellen Townsend (mezzo-soprano). The day also included the church’s regular singing workshop for Key Stage 1 children ‘Come and Sing’, which ended with a short performance.
After a further short organ recital given by Tim Selman, the full choir combined to sing a service of celebration, including Parry’s I was glad, and finishing with the choristers singing Joanna Forbes L’Estrange’s setting of The Choristers’ Prayer, with the choristers spread out, singing from all around the church space.
Dr Tim Williams (Director of Music) said of the event: ‘This was a monumental effort from everyone involved in the music department from our youngest to our oldest choristers, including our professional staff and colleagues, and our logistics and chaperoning team.
“I was very proud of everything that was offered during this day of music, and of the way in which it was offered. There were many beautiful moments, and it would be impossible to find any particular highlight, given how much went into the day. We have so far received over £2,500 of public donations both in the church and via our online giving page (which is still open: https://donate.churchdesk.com/en-gb/1/xep8LukyfH).
“We are profoundly grateful for all the public support we have received, including the donations. We are currently collecting in sponsorship from the choristers, youth choir, adult singers and community choir, as well as from other performers and chaperones, so we are hopeful that the total raised will be significantly higher. It may be another week or so before we can announce this.”
St Wulfram’s Church is holding three further fundraising concerts in July as part of the campaign. On Thursday, July 13, at 7.30pm there will be The Alternative Chorister Concert when choristers and youth choir members will show their ability on many different instruments and in many different musical styles. Tickets are available here: https://forms.churchdesk.com/f/FyqD7rgTj6
On Saturday, July 15, at 11.30am, St Wulfram’s Youth Choir will be in recital. There is free entry with a retiring collection.
On Thursday, July 20, at 7.30pm, former St Wulfram’s organ scholars, Joseph Beech (sub-organist of Durham Cathedral) and Matilda Johnston (Royal Academy of Music) will be in recital. https://forms.churchdesk.com/f/DxL6jiT3ru
Dr Williams added. “The experience of touring with the choir is a wonderful part of being a chorister. Many life-long memories are made, and it helps the choir grow as a team. We can’t wait for our trip to sing in the iconic cathedral of St Davids, and we thank local people, and those who have donated from further afield, for all of their support towards our choir.”
Fr Stuart Cradduck, rector of St Wulfram’s, said: “Music is such an important part of all we do at St Wulfram’s, through our worship and public events, but also in terms of our outreach to the community. It was a beautiful offering - 24 hours of continuous music, beginning and closing in prayer. Many thanks to all who made this happen, and to all who supported in any way.”