Our Choral Musical Tradition
Our choir helps to lead and support the worship of the church through music at the Sunday 10am Sung Eucharist, and at other special festival occasions including Epiphany, Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Vigil, Ascension, Peter & Paul, Transfiguration, Michaelmas, Harvest, All Saints, and a quarterly service of Evensong, Nine Lessons & Carols, as well as Weddings and Funerals upon request.
We are a mixed voice choir of twenty five adult and teenage choristers. Our comprehensive library contains music of all periods and each Sunday at 10am we sing an anthem. Our choir has also sung evensong in Guildford Cathedral, St Albans Cathedral and Westminster Abbey on a number of occasions.
Adult Choir practice is on Wednesday evenings in the church from 7.30 – 9.00 pm.
New Members are made very welcome and the choir is a very friendly group. If you are interested in joining the choir, you would be made very welcome. Please contact the Parish Office: info@stjamesweybridge.org.uk
Children in the choir
As part of St James’ Church vision, and our desire to grow out church younger, St James’ PCC have plans to develop a youth/children’s choir to meet in addition to the adult choir.
Choir News July 2026
Our Director of Music, Lindsay Bridgwater, has announced his retirement at the end of the month.
His last Sunday in his role will be Sunday 26th July, our patronal Festival Sunday. Lindsay will very much remain part of the St James’ Church family, and will assist with holiday cover, special services, and occasional offices.
An application pack for the appointment of his successor will be available from early August 2026.
Voice for Life is the name of the training scheme run by the Royal School of Church Music (RSCM) in which we participate. 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 Dean’s (Bronze) Award that is tested externally by an examiner from the RSCM. The Dean’s Award is worn on a green ribbon and this is followed by the Bishop’s Award (Silver) which is worn on a purple ribbon. Candidates for the Dean’s and Bishop’s 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.