Building on a Choral Tradition:

This promises to be an exciting year for music at St Margaret’s Church in Horsforth as it emerges from the challenges of the pandemic.

 

The impressive church building, dating from 1883, boasts excellent acoustics and, as well as hosting weekly rehearsals of the Horsforth Community Choir and the Leeds Symphony Orchestra, it is increasingly used as a venue for a wide variety of concerts.

 

St Margaret’s has a long choral tradition of its own.  As early as 1875 the church – at that time in a smaller building on the Green - was noted for “the quality of its voices” and its “excellent surplice choir”.  The choir has maintained this excellent reputation throughout its history, enhanced by the installation of its large, 3-manual Abbot and Smith organ in 1904 and the inclusion of female voices since the 1990s.  The current RSCM-affiliated choir is friendly, inclusive and forward-looking. It has 4 youngsters and 8 adults (2 each of SATB) with considerable musical experience, as well as links with other musicians who are invited to take part when the need arises.  One such occasion will be this Good Friday when, together with the Heritage Singers, the choir is due to perform the Seven Last Words as part of a devotional service.

 

The PCC has recently committed funds both for major organ repairs, due to be carried out by Leeds-based J. M. Spinks from this July, and for the appointment of a new choir leader.  If you would like to be part of this future or feel you could help in any way, please do get in touch with the vicar, the Rev’d Nigel Sinclair through the church office: Tel: 0113 2581719 email abbeylandscofe@outlook.com.