The Choir

There are around 30 trebles (boys and girls) and 14 men in the choir. Most of the juniors are drawn from Applecroft 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 Winchester, Chichester, Portsmouth, St Albans, Salisbury, Westminster Abbey and St Paul's Cathedrals. We also sang an evensong in Romsey Abbey and Aldeburgh parish 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

Current Music List:

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.