Choir
We are fortunate in boasting an enthusiastic choir which sings at our weekly Sunday 10am Sung Communion and Family Services, leading our hymns and worship songs, our sung service settings, and singing a weekly anthem. We meet for half an hour before a service to rehearse and have built up a large repertoire over the years. We also rehearse and sing for major festivals, including Holy Week and Easter, Harvest Festival, the annual All Souls’ Service and Advent and Christmas Carol Services, as well as being available for funerals and weddings.
If you enjoy singing and would like to be part of our friendly and passionate choir, we would love you to join us! The ability to read music is not essential, since our Director of Music will provide all the help and support you need. We appreciate that people have other commitments living in the lovely area in and around Shamley Green where there’s so much on offer and to get involved in, but we would welcome new choir members even if you’re only able to join us for special occasions or the occasional Sunday. Please contact Rob on 07931 734145 or email robblythe@hotmail.co.uk if you are interested in joining us.
Dates for the diary
Sunday 9th June 2024 – RSCM Music Sunday – As a member of the Royal School of Church Music, Christ Church is celebrating Music Sunday on the 9th June where YOU get to choose the Preludes, Communion Interlude and Postlude played at the 10am Sunday service. What are your favourite pieces of music that you’d like to hear played? – Classical or Popular. Email Rob at robblythe@hotmail.co.uk, or come and chat to me over coffee after a service, with your suggestions and requests and your most popular pieces will be played on Sunday 9th June.
New Director of Music
We are delighted to announce the appointment of our new Director of Music, Rob Blythe, who took up the post on 10th March. Come and meet him on our Organ "Drop in" Day on Saturday 20th April 2024, 10am to 2pm. (Flyer below).
Rob's Bio
I was born and raised in Alnmouth, Northumberland, falling in love with the organ and church music from a young age. Inspired by a former concert-pianist that used to come and accompany my primary school’s carol services, I took piano lessons gaining my Grade 8 through tuition from Mr Aubrey Richardson, and organ lessons from Dr Russell Missin, former Organist and Master of the Choristers of Newcastle Cathedral. I taught Secondary Music for several years in Camberley, Odiham, Alnwick and London before setting up my own online business: Musical Contexts, where I currently create online music education resources for primary and secondary classroom music teachers. I was organist at my home church of St. John the Baptist, Alnmouth, together with its sister church, St. Mary’s, Lesbury, and Organist and Choir Master at St. Andrew’s, Frimley Green, as well as being a Freelance Organist for many years in churches and crematoria. In 2013, I gained a BA (Hons) in Music and Classical Studies. As my late organ teacher often used to tell me: “(Robert)…you’re never going to be a cathedral or concert organist, but you’re going to make a parish church very happy” – I am indeed very happy to be Director of Music/Organist and look forward to sharing my musical gift with you to sing God’s praises at Christ Church through music and song for many years.
