Last Sunday, members of our choir along with other singers from across the Soar Valley Minster Community gathered together to sing a service of Choral Evensong at St Andrew’s Church, Kegworth. Under the direction of Simon Headley, our Organist and Director of Music, with Angus McKechnie from Quorn Church at the organ, the 25-strong choir sang Stanford’s Evening Service in B-flat, Smith Reponses, Psalm 65 and John Rutter’s anthem ‘For the Beauty of the Earth’ along with popular Harvest hymns for all to sing.

This was a ‘Come and Sing’ so we rehearsed for over an hour before enjoying excellent pre-service refreshments. The service itself was conducted by Tim Aldsworth, who is a reader within the benefice, and our Rector led the prayers.

Comments from participants included “Singing with others was very special” and “Hope we can get to do it all again sometime”, so it is planned to repeat this at other churches around the Minster Community at different times of the year. Simon Headley said “It was wonderful to be able to come together to sing at Kegworth and fill their choir stalls for this Harvest Celebration. We had a core group of singers from Quorn and Loughborough, which meant that anyone else could join in and know that they wouldn’t be on their own”. It is hoped that future ‘Come and Sing’ events will enable more people to experience the beauty of choral music in worship.

Jean Hayes, churchwarden at Kegworth added “it was a pleasure to host such a joyful Harvest Choral Evensong. Our church has a history of music that has sadly declined and it was good to hear a large choir sing there again. The number of singers was matched by a very appreciative congregation.”