St Mark's Church, Bilton
MUSIC
Choir,
Organ and Music Group
There are historical records and a photograph
showing a pipe organ in 1861. Music at St Mark's is wide and varied, from
plainsong Compline to modern Worship songs and choruses.
The Choir consists of a Junior section, girls from 8 to 16
and a group of experienced senior choristers, ladies and gentlemen. Musical
repertoire includes works from Tallis to John Rutter and we sing choruses and
modern choir settings by John Bell, Margaret Rizza and compositions from the Taizé
community.
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The Organ
Built in 1871 by John Nicholson of Worcester, it is a very
good two manual tracker action instrument. There are seven stops on
the Great Manual, nine stops on the Swell and two ranks of pedal pipes 16'
and 8'. It was restored in late 1999 with a rebuilt wind chest and new
keys.
The Case was originally made in about 1660 and came
from St John's College, Cambridge, when the instrument was new. The
pipework was arranged to fit into this historic case and to achieve
success the organ has the stop controls opposite to the standard
arrangement with Swell on the right and Great on the left.
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The Music Group. On the fourth Sunday of each month in the morning the
Music Group plays most of the hymns and the introductory and closing
voluntaries. This is a group of nine musicians drawn from the church. There
are two Violins, one Cello, one Clarinet, one Trumpet, two Cornets
and a Pianist.
The Choir Director is Gill Clark. She is ably
assisted by the Organists Peter Lock, Judy Lee and Chris Harrat. New singers and instrumentalists are always welcome. Get in touch via
the Parish
Office by clicking the following e-mail link: St Mark's Parish Office.
Bells and Bellringers. We have a band of enthusiastic
ringers who ring our historic peal of six bells, the Tenor weighs just over
7 cwt and is in Ab. Ringing always takes place before the main
10.00am Sunday morning service from 9.15am. A quarter peal is normally attempted
once a month before Evensong. Practice is on a Monday night from 7.30 to
9.00pm and visitors are very welcome to join the ringers. For more information
please contact our Tower Captain, Sally Idle via the Parish
Office by clicking the following e-mail link: St Mark's Parish Office.
This page
was updated on 1st May 2007
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