MUSIC AT THE CHURCH
THE CHOIR
All Saints’ has a strong choral tradition with a robed choir affiliated to the RSCM, a Director of Music and separate organist, providing music in the ‘cathedral’ style.
The choir is a full SATB choir with the treble line composed in the main of teenagers who receive training within the church. The 10 am Eucharist and Choral evensong is fully sung every Sunday as are services on major Holy Days.
The choir has an ongoing recruitment and there are opportunities for young people to sing with the choir at All Saints’. Interest is also welcomed from Altos, Tenors, and Basses.
In the first instance enquiries to join the choir should be made to the Director of Music, Godfrey Davis Tel: 01983 564161 or to the Vicar, or organist Andrew Cooper, tel. 01983 616819.
THE ORGAN
All Saints’ church organ was built in 1874 by the renowned Victorian organ builder Henry Willis, who during the same period, made instruments for many cathedrals including those at Canterbury, Durham, Exeter, Oxford, Lincoln, Salisbury, Truro, Winchester and St. Paul's. With 3 manuals, 45 speaking stops and 2850 pipes, it is the finest organ on the Island.
In Andrew Cooper, All Saints’ is most fortunate also to have an excellent organist.
THE BELLS
The fine ring of eight bells, cast by John Taylor & Company, were hung in 1886, and dedicated by Archdeacon Sumner on Ascension Day - June 23rd - of that year. The tenor weighs over 26 hundredweight, and the total weight is some 95 hundredweight (almost 5 tons or 4.5 tonnes).
Additional to the eight bells is an older bell which is rung for daily services. It was cast about 1870, and an interesting item in the accounts for 1875 shows that the bellringer was paid just over £19 for his services that year (allowing for inflation, some £2000 in today's money)!