FESTIVAL OF CHURCH CHOIRS

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27472, 5 October 1954, Page 11

FESTIVAL OF CHURCH CHOIRS

The annual festival of massed choirs from Anglican parish churches will be held in the Christchurch Cathedral on Thursday evening, when a selection of anthems by well-known composers of church music will be sung. About 200 men, women, and boys from 15 choirs will take place in the festival. Mr E. R. Field-Dodgson will conduct the singing and Mr K. R. Horn will play the organ. Wearing robes, the choirs will assemble in the grounds of the Cathedral before going to the choir stalls. Taking the form of evensong, the festival will be attended by many members of the clergy. The Bishop of Christchurch (the Rt. Rev. A. K. Warren) and the Venerable W. W. Averill, Archdeacon of Christchurch, will read the lessons. Prayers will be led by the precentor of the Cathedral (the Rev. Canon W. A. Orange). The five anthems which will be presented are by William Harris, Alec Rowley, Herbert Howells, Orlando Gibbons, and Henry Ley. Choirs from the following churches will take part:—St. Matthew’s, St. Albans; St. Barnabas’, Fendalton; St. Luke’s, Christchurch; St. Chad’s, Linwood; St. Mary’s. Merivale; St. Peter’s, Upper Riccarton; St. Augustine’s, Cashmere; St. Saviour’s, Sydenham; All Saints’, Sumner; St. Paul’s, Papanui; St. Saviour’s and Holy Trinity, Lyttelton; St. Mark’s, Opawa; Holy Trinity, Avonside; and the chapel choir of Christ’s College.