Worship life
Choir
The choir exists to lead and support the worship of the church through music, both at regular weekly services, and on other special occasions. It is a mixed voice choir of fifty choristers. Anybody wishing to join is made very welcome. No auditions are held and no previous experience is necessary. Choir practice is on Wednesday evenings in the Church from 6.30 – 8.00 pm for younger choristers and from 7.30 – 9.00 pm for adult choristers. Anyone interested in joining is welcome to come on any Wednesday to listen to a practice or they are more than welcome to join in. Our comprehensive library contains music of all periods and each week an anthem is sung at the Sunday Eucharist service. The choir has also sung evensong in Guildford Cathedral, St Albans Cathedral and Westminster Abbey on a number of occasions.
Further information about the choir can be obtained from the Director of Music, Christine Best stjamesweybridge@btinternet.com.
Choir members why not join our secure office site to keep up to date with events! or if you are already a member then click this link to login
Read about our recent award winners
Please take a look at our leaflet
Voice for Life
Voice for Life is the name of the training scheme run by the Royal School of Church Music (RSCM) which we participate in. Young Choristers receive on-going training during Choir practice.
The first award is a white lapel pin which Choristers receive after initial training and settling into the Choir. RSCM medals on light blue, and then dark blue, ribbons follow. To receive these Young Choristers must show a commitment to the Choir, complete the necessary training as well as demonstrating their singing and musical skills. These first few Awards are tested internally. Young Choristers are then prepared for their Deans (Bronze) Award that is tested externally by a RSCM examiner. The Deans Award is worn on a green ribbon and this is followed by the Bishops Award (Silver) which is worn on a purple ribbon. Candidates for the Deans and Bishops Award are expected to work hard to prepare for their exams which include performing hymns, an anthem and psalm, having their music aural skills tested and answering questions about the Church and liturgy.
Further information about the RSCM Voice for Life Award scheme can be found at
http://www.rscm.com/education/vfl/trainingScheme.php
Junior Choir
The Junior Choir is for children aged 4+ who enjoy singing. We meet on the second Sunday of each month (except August) in the small hall of the Parish Centre from 11.20 am – 12 noon for action songs, rounds and fun. The Junior Choir is encouraged to sing with the main Choir at the Family Service which is held at 10.00 am on the first Sunday of each month.
For further information please contact the Parish Office on 01932 856399 or via e-mail stjamesweybridge@btinternet.com
Altar servers
play an essential role in the worship at St James. At each Parish
Eucharist three servers, one crucifer and two acolytes, assist
at the Altar. Servers Team members are both male and female, ranging
from the age of 13 upwards.
Servers receive full training. After training they serve approximately
once a month, but this alters at busy periods such as Christmas
and Easter. Servers wear a white alb and girdle.
As a group we meet approximately twice a year for group training
sessions and a further twice a year socially
Please see the latest rota here
Further information available from the Head Server, Paul Tame
or please contact the Parish administrator Roger Scott - Tel 01932 856399
E-mail - stjamesweybridge@btinternet.com
Intercessor and readers
A rota of people read the epistle and lead the intercessions at the Parish Eucharist on Sundays. The rota is usually displayed in the Church porch.
Please find here the rota for readers and intercessors
If you would like to join either of these rotas please contact the Parish administrator Roger Scott - Tel 01932 856399
E-mail - stjamesweybridge@btinternet.com
St. James is fortunate to have a peal of 8 bells (Tenor 11cwt, 3 qtrs, and 7 pounds) which, following a re-hang and re-tune in 1989 are one of the nicer peals to both ring and listen to in the Diocese. A sound control system which allows us to reduce the volume significantly for practices and other non-service ringing.
The bells are rung by a band of about a dozen people ranging from school-age up to post retirement who meet at about 1930 on Thursday evenings to practice, and ring from 0915 to 1000 on Sundays for the Parish Eucharist, together with ringing for weddings, occasionally funerals, special services, festivals, and sometimes just for fun!
We welcome anyone who would like to try ringing, together with any ringers who would like to visit, either individually to a practice or service ring, or as part of a band on an outing or for a peal.
For further information plese contact either the Tower Secretary (Linda Strange on 01932 830947) or the Tower Captain (Neill Rubidge on 01932 844743).
We would like to congratulate Claudia Lupea who rang for the first time at the Eucharist service on 27th May and to Eleanor Mason who rang for the first time on 1st May for the Ascension service
We would also like to bring to your attention our winning the Parsons Cup earlier this year.
Flowers play an important part in the overall beauty of our church of St James here in Weybridge. We are a small team of volunteers - all amateur flower arrangers but dedicated to our task. We take care of special requests - i.e. wedding arrangements, memorials to loved ones, special anniversaries and all the special days in our church calendar.
Church flowers are paid for by members of the congregation - often in memory of a loved one, to commemorate an anniversary etc. Minimum cost £25. If you would like to contribute to the flowers on a particular Sunday do get in touch.
We welcome anyone who would like to volunteer to help - no experience needed just a keen interest and a love of flowers.
Please contact Joy Wilmot on 01932 847627 for any enquiries