The praise and worship of God is the first duty, and the joy, of every Christian, and so the life blood of a Christian community. This opus dei, the work of God, has been done here faithfully for more than eight centuries. Today we fulfil that sacred trust through our pattern of daily services. In their range and variety we celebrate the richness of the Anglican liturgical and choral tradition.

Worship is for the whole people of God, who are fellow pilgrims on a journey of faith, and those who attend services are all at different stages of that journey. Indeed, worship is itself a pilgrimage – a journey into the heart of the love of God.

The Preface to Common Worship

We invite you to join us on the journey.

For two thousand years music has enriched the worship of the Christian church. There has been a tradition of choral singing here at St Laurence’s since the late 15th century. We are proud to continue to promote and encourage music as part of our worship here.

Psalm 104 vv 33

I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live:
I will praise my God while I have my being.

Who are we? What do we do?

The historic choral tradition of St Laurence’s was first recorded in 1492, making it one of the oldest choirs in England, a country famous throughout the world for its unique choral heritage.

At St Laurence’s we have very high musical standards. We are a choir of children and adults, and are the only professionally run church choir in South Shropshire, led by our Director of Music, Michael Oakley. The full choir sings at the Sunday morning 9.30am Parish Eucharist, and the adults also sing choral evensong twice a month and choral matins twice a month. We have many major events throughout the year including a solemn choral requiem in November, Nine Lessons and Carols by candlelight in December, as well as other orchestral choral services at Easter.

We are now recruiting children aged 7–9 to join our successful choir. We also welcome enquires from experienced adult singers and offer choral scholarships to young sopranos, altos, tenors or basses.

What are the benefits of singing in the choir?

• Enjoyment of music and new friendships
• A free musical education (including vocal tuition and theory)
• A structured system of training (including RSCM singing exams)
• Important life skills (self-discipline, high standards, sense of achievement and learning, in a safe, adult and professional environment)
• Monthly pocket money (currently £1.50 per week)
• Extra money for weddings (£5 per wedding)
• Regular Cathedral visits/tours and concerts inc foreign tours
• Trips to ten-pin bowling, wildlife parks and other fun places
• Opportunities beyond our choir (optional residential courses)
• Opportunities to develop in the Christian faith – children from families with little or no religious inclination are also very welcome to join the choir.

What are the weekly commitments?

The church choir year is broadly similar to school terms, with one week holidays after Christmas, Easter and all of August free, as well as the second weekend of half terms.

Junior Choristers

Thursday 5.30 – 7 pm
Sunday Parish Eucharist 9 am Rehearsal 9.30 am Parish Eucharist

(Choristers often share lifts, so the weekly commitment becomes easily manageable)

Adult Choristers

Thursday 6.45 – 8 pm
Sunday Parish Eucharist 9.00 am rehearsal 9.30 am service
Twice a month Choral Matins at 11.30 am and twice a month Choral Evensong at 3.30 pm with rehearsals 30mins prior to each service

Prospective choristers (pre-probationers) usually attend rehearsals at first and Sunday services for a trial period of four weeks .

If you have questions?

Visit the church, or email the Director of Music, Michael Oakley.