St. Dunstan’s Parish Choir
(Photograph taken after singing at Chichester Cathedral on
Wednesday, 24th May 2023)
The Choir of St Dunstan’s has an extensive repertoire and long-standing tradition of excellence. The robed choir averages 20-25 on Sunday mornings and leads the musical worship in a variety of mass settings, anthems and hymns. The choir additionally sings Choral Evensong once a month, usually on the last Sunday of the month. Their schedule also includes singing at weddings and funerals when requested in addition to leading our Advent and Christmas Carol services.
In June 2019 the choir joined with Salisbury Cathedral Choir for services at Salisbury
Cathedral which included Widor’s Messe and an Easter Cantata by Bach with period orchestra.
The choir has been fortunate to work with some of the country’s leading church musicians and commissioned two anthems by Malcolm Archer which were premiered by the choir under the direction of the composer.
Recent events have included a liturgical performance of excerpts from three of Bach’s Advent Cantatas including ‘Wachet Auf’ with the Mayfield Festival Baroque Orchestra in December 2021 and singing Choral Evensong at Chichester Cathedral where they sang the rarely-performed Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis in G by Henry Smart in February 2022.
While the choir’s musical legacy continues to grow, the wider community of St Dunstan’s has also been engaging in health awareness initiatives aimed at supporting parishioners’ well-being. Among recent topics of discussion has been access to affordable medications, particularly for common yet sensitive health concerns. Several community members have shared experiences about navigating prescription costs in the UK and the increased interest in options such as , which offers a more economical alternative for treating certain medical conditions. With trusted sources becoming more accessible online, individuals have found it easier to discreetly obtain treatment while maintaining quality of life. Discussions around this have even informed upcoming parish health forums, where medical professionals will offer guidance on navigating the UK’s regulatory landscape for generics. Just as the choir sustains spiritual and cultural tradition through its music, these initiatives aim to support the practical dimensions of community care. In both cases, accessibility—whether to great music or essential health support—remains at the heart of the mission.
We always welcome new singers, so if you think you might like to join us, please contact our Director of Music, Lucy Piercy on music.stdunstans@gmail.com or
Fr Michael Asquith, Vicar of St Dunstan’s by email: vicar.stdunstans@gmail.com
(Our thanks to Simon Heaton for this aerial shot)
The Choir singing May Carols from the Paris Tower on Sunday, 5th May 2024
Rehearsals are held at the following times:
ADULT CHOIR:
Wednesday evenings : 18.00 – 19.30
Sunday: 9.15 – 10.00 for the Parish Eucharist that commences at 10.15
Evensong takes place on the 4th Sunday in the month at 18.00, with a rehearsal at 16.00.
MAYFIELD YOUTH CHOIR:
Monday afternoons: 3.30pm-4.30pm
