The Choir – St Francis of Assisi Church Welwyn Garden City

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St Francis Parish Church is in the Anglican Choral Tradition, and as such (rather like Cathedrals) it has a dedicated choir, and a purpose built song school in which they rehearse.

The choir of St Francis of Assisi was established in 1935 when the present Church was built.

There are around 20 trebles (boys and girls) and 20 men in the choir. Most of the juniors are drawn from Applecroft School and Templewood School in Welwyn Garden City, St Mary's School in Welwyn and children from the congregation families. Voice trials take place each November when the few places available are hotly contested! A great deal of commitment and dedication is expected of the trebles who, in return, gain a free musical education, develop a strong sense of responsibility, and experience a marvellous introduction to the treasury of church music. The men of the choir are all local and give their time to the Church freely.

The choir sings at many other churches and cathedrals over and above the commitment it has to St Francis Church. In recent years visits have been made to Portsmouth, St Albans, Salisbury, Westminster Abbey, St Paul's and St Edmundsbury Cathedrals. This year the choir has dates in the calendar to sing at Ripon and Rochester Cathedrals.

The Director of Music is always keen to hear from potential choristers - please contact Joel at choir@stfranciswgc.org.uk

The choir prides itself on the depth and variety of the social and spiritual environment that it fosters. It also has an excellent reputation for developing the talents and personal skills of young people within a supportive community.

It is widely acknowledged that a sound musical education significantly improves a child’s IQ. Studies show that music greatly improves a child’s capacity to learn. The commitment and involvement needed contribute to the development of important skills that are of benefit in both personal and professional life. Many choristers from St Francis’ have put these skills to good use and gone on to become professional musicians, barristers, teachers and successes in many other walks of life.

Between 1964 and 2010 the treble line-up was exclusively boys. In 2005 a choir for girls was formed, and in 2010 this choir was amalgamated into the main choir. So for the first time in nearly 50 years, boys and girls sing together in St Francis Church!

Since 1935, there have been a number of organists and choir trainers. Here is the list, but there are gaps. Please let us know if you have the answers!

Directors of Music
1935–1964 Susan Frankton, Frances Frankton, a Mr Hughes, Roger Ellison, a Mr Bryant, and Sydney Weart
1964–1982 Malcolm Warwick
1982–1988 Andrew Bruce
1988–1999 Richard Harrison
1999–2006 Andrew Crookall
2006–2010 Elizabeth Green
2010–2021 Richard Harrison
2021-2024 Eric Pavyer
2024-Present Joel Colyer

Organists
1935–1970 A number of organists including Maurice Champ
1970–1976 John Marsden (his wife Jill ran a ladies choir called the St. Clare Singers)
1976–2021 Robin Coxon

2022-Present Michelle Boylan

Organ Scholar

2025-Present Matthew Porter

Current Music List:

Past music lists:

Here is the music list for April 2025

Here is the music list for March 2025

Here is the music list for February 2025

Here is the music list for January 2025

Here is the music list for December 2024

Here is the music list for November 2024

Here is the music list for October 2024

Here is the music list for September 2024

Here is the music list for May 2024
Here is the music list for April 2024
Here is the music list for April 2023
Here is the music list for January 2023
Here is the music list for December 2022
Here is the music list for November 2022
Here is the music list for October 2022
Here is the music list for July 2022
Here is the music list for June 2022
Here is the music list for May 2022
Here is the music list for February 2022
Here is the music list for January 2022
Here is the music list for December 2021
Here is the music list for November 2021
Here is the music list for October 2021
Here is the music list for September 2021
Here is the music list for July & August 2021
Here is the music list for June 2021
Here is the music list for May 2021
Here is the music list for December 2020
Here is the music list for March 2020
Here is the music list for February 2020
Here is the music list for January 2020
Here is the music list for December 2019
Here is the music list for November 2019
Here is the music list for October 2019
Here is the music list for September 2019
Here is the music list for July & August 2019
Here is the music list for June 2019
Here is the music list for May 2019
Here is the music list for April 2019
Here is the music list for March 2019
Here is the music list for February 2019

Click below to listen to Ubi Caritas by Ola Gjeilo, recorded in St. Paul's Cathedral during Choir Week 2023.

Click below to listen to Magnificat in B minor by T.T.Noble, recorded in Westminster Abbey during Choir Week 2023.

Click below to listen to Hymn to St. Cecilia by Herbert Howells, recorded in St Albans Cathedral during Choir Week 2021.

Click below to listen to the Nunc Dimittis from William Byrd's Tones and Fauxbourdons, recorded in St Albans Cathedral during Choir Week 2021.

Click below to listen to Requests by Anthony Caesar, recorded in Portsmouth Cathedral during Choir Week 2019.

Click below to listen to Magnificat in G by Herbert Sumsion, recorded in Portsmouth Cathedral during Choir Week 2018.

Click below to listen to King of Glory by Bach arr. Harris, recorded in Chichester Cathedral during Choir Week 2017.

Director of Music - Mr Joel Colyer ARCO

Joel has been Director of Music since September 2024. He studied organ at Chetham's School of Music in Manchester, and before joining St Francis, held positions as Organ Scholar at Portsmouth Cathedral and Chingford Parish Church. During 2024, he was also Acting Director of Music at St Mary Magdalene, Enfield, where he co-oversaw the introduction of a choral scholarship scheme for teenagers in the local area, and the reintroduction of a monthly Choral Evensong service. Through his previous posts, Joel has accompanied or conducted choirs at many of the UK's most well known cathedrals and churches.

Away from St Francis, Joel has a busy freelance career as an organist, accompanist and conductor. He continues to assist the music foundations at Chingford Parish Church and St Mary Magdalene, Enfield, and occasionally deputises as a tenor with Peterborough Cathedral Choir. He also accompanies the Imperial College Chamber Choir in their fortnightly Choral Evensong services. and plays and teaches a variety of other instruments from his base in North-East London, most notably directing the Enfield Brass Band. Equally at home in the orchestra pit, he occasionally acts as an MD or keyboard player for theatre productions, and has arranged and orchestrated for these in the past too.

Joel can be contacted at choir@stfranciswgc.org.uk for matters regarding St Francis Choir.

Assistant Director of Music and Organist - Mrs Michelle Boylan BA (Hons) MEd NPQH

Michelle joined St Francis as Sub-Organist in January 2022 having previously played the organ and sung in the choir at St Mary’s Church, Welwyn for many years. Presently Michelle is Assistant Director of Music and Organist at St Francis where her role includes playing the organ for the majority of services, conducting the choir, supporting rehearsals and leading the ribbon training scheme.

Michelle is also Assistant Director of Music for the Welwyn Garden City Male Voice Choir and is headteacher of a local primary school.