Join the Worth Abbey choir
Our Music programme forms a significant part of ministry here at Worth Abbey.
“The importance of music in biblical religion is shown very simply by the fact that the verb to sing… is one of the most commonly used words in the Bible. When man comes into contact with God, mere speech is not enough.” Benedict XVI, Spirit of the Liturgy
The opportunity to be involved in music at Worth Abbey draws professional and volunteer musicians from various parts the Diocese and further afield.
The Abbey Choir was re-established in October 2022 in time for the Visit of the Relics of Saint Bernadette which occurred later that month. The main function of the Abbey Choir is to provide an excellent standard of choral music for the main Sunday Mass each week, and it tries to reflect in everything it sings the richness and beauty of the Catholic faith.
The choir rehearses once a month, usually the first Friday from 7:15-8:30pm; it then meets to socialise as a group at one of the local pubs afterwards.
In August 2024, the Abbey Choir went on tour to Venice during which it sang concerts at San Giorgio Maggiore and the basilica on the island of Murano; it also sang for Sunday Mass at the world-famous St Mark's Basilica. A trip for 2025 is planned for Paris during which the Abbey Choir will present a concert on the Feast of the Assumption at Saint-Sulpice, including Louis Vierne's monumental Messe solennelle.
Three choral scholarships primarily for students of sixth form age are offered. In return for singing for Sunday services and on major feasts of the church (for example Easter and Christmas), students are offered professional vocal tuition and funding to help support them in their studies, currently £1500 per annum.
The Abbey Choir meets every Sunday morning (except during July and August) at 8:45am to rehearse before Mass (which starts at 9:30am and finishes no later than 10:40am).
We are always looking for enthusiastic new members, so if you would like more information about the choir, please contact Edward Dean (Abbey Director of Music and Monastic Organist) at edean@worth.org.uk.