Music News - November 2026

At the end of September, a successful recruitment evening for the choristers took place during normal choir practice time. While prospective choristers did some singing and then were given a tour of the church by the choral scholars, Hannah provided prosecco and nibbles to the parents and gave them a talk about the required level of commitment as well as the benefits of singing in the choir. Let us hope we will be able to gain some new recruits.

October was an especially productive month for music in the church. On Saturday 3rd the choir enjoyed a successful visit to sing Evensong in Chelmsford Cathedral. There are numerous people to thank for organising travel, liaising with the cathedral and to those who transported choir robes. It is wonderful that our choir can take the musical tradition of St Mary’s far and wide and demonstrate their commitment to high-quality singing. It also meant a considerable time commitment for choir members, with Friday night practice, Chelmsford on the Saturday and a splendid Choral Eucharist the next day. The SMMA is so grateful to them all for their hard work.

At Evensong on the 11th the music was chosen by the family of Gordon and Susan Smith. Gordon was the first Chairman of the SMMA and instrumental in getting the society ‘up-and-running’. The two were active members of the choir and the brass group, and had many friends in Saffron Walden.


A spectacular outreach event saw pupils from many of the local primary schools attend a workshop taken by Lynsey Callaghan. Lynsey is director of the Dublin Youth Choir and the junior National Youth Choir and her energy, humour and rigour captivated the young people as she taught them several songs over a two-hour period. The event culminated in a performance given to a church packed with parents. The primary schools were all very grateful for this fantastic opportunity to sing with such a highly rated conductor and an enormous thank you goes once again to Hannah for organising a slick and seamless event.

November the first is All Saints Day, and as well as Choral Eucharist in the morning, the choir will sing the All Souls Service at 4pm with music including The Funeral Icons by Tavener and Thou Knowest Lord by Purcell. The 8th of November is Remembrance Sunday where the introit will be Holy is the true Light by Harris and For the Fallen by Irving. The 29th is of course Advent Sunday and the Advent Carol Service is at 6.30. Remember to get to the church early as the service is very popular and seats will be at a premium!

Philip Sunderland

Photographs by Hannah Razzell