Music at Saint Faith's |
Music
plays an integral part in worship at St Faith's just as it
has done within worship since the earliest centuries of the
Christian church, and before Christ with the chanting of
psalms in the Synagogue.
The principal musical service is Solemn Eucharist on Sundays
at 11.00am, and on Holy Days at various times. Evensong and
Benediction are sung from time to time by arrangement. St Faith's is
one of the few churches in the diocese able to maintain a
four-part choir, and is committed to the use of good quality
music to serve the liturgy.
The following links provide information on music at St
Faith's, music makers associated with or who perform in our
church as well as details of forthcoming events.
To access an index of the Sounds of Saint
Faith's, click HERE. There are
recordings of our choir and organ, as well as the voices of
past incumbents and various other entertainments!
Coming
sooner or later: a promised relaunch and update of
this haphazard page, thanks to our new Director of
Music. Watch this space......... Keep watching...! |
Welcoming
our new
Director We said farewell at the end of
June 2014 to our previous maestro, Daniel
Rathbone. Our
new Director of Music is ROBERT WOODS. Robert
comes to us from Holy Cross, Woodchurch on the
Wirral. He
continues as a counter-tenor Lay Clerk at the
Metropolitan Cathedral and accompanist to a
number of local choirs. He is
Director of Music of his own choir, Mostly
Madrigals (which specialises in madrigals!).
|
My first contact with St
Faith’s was to deputise for Sam Austin in May
2011. Later that year I succeeded Sam as Director
of Music. Haven’t the last two and a half years
flown? My constant aim has been to support and enhance worship at St Faith’s with music of a high standard and a balance of old and new. I have been pleased to compose several choral pieces for St Faith’s including “They that go down to the sea” to commemorate the foundering of the Titanic, “There is no rose” for the Advent Carol Service and “Tu es Petrus” for Evensong on 29 June 2014.
The organ has been a magnificent instrument to play. It has performed perfectly for services and recitals and has a wonderful tone well matched to the building. I am moving to the parish of St Luke in the historic village of Farnworth, Widnes. All local roads lead to the church on a hill top. It was founded around 1180 and was formerly the parish of St Wilfred’s on the Hill until rededicated in 1859. A Saxon cross stands near the church entrance. The church has many connections with the Bold family. These include the Bold Chapel and their funeral hatchments. Like St Faith’s, there is a local connection with an Archbishop of Canterbury. Richard Bancroft came from Farnworth. He was Archbishop from 1604 to 1610 and led the 39 Bishops who worked on the King James Bible. I’ll be sorry to
leave St Faith’s. Thank you to the clergy,
choir and parishioners who have helped me in
my time here. I shall treasure your kind words
and support. For my part I hope to continue
developing my skills as an organist and director
in my new parish. Daniel
Rathbone |
For the Archives...!
Mr Daniel Rathbone (tel: 07759 695683) is our
ex-Director of Music at St Faith's.
I was probably
about six when my interest in organ music was
sparked. Saturday afternoons were spent listening to
Ian Wells and Ian Tracy rehearsing at Liverpool
Cathedral. There was no turning back when Ian Tracy
presented me with some recordings and a book about
the cathedral organ. Soon after this I auditioned for and joined the Metropolitan Cathedral Choir as a chorister. This opened the door to a wealth of new experiences. I began to understand the discipline of music and the great rewards that came with it. After leaving the Cathedral Choir, I had more time to work for my Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award. I became more involved in voluntary work and outdoor activities including kayaking and trekking. No doubt the highlight, on completion was attending St James’s Palace and meeting the Duke of Edinburgh. At the University of Huddersfield, I studied organ specialising in composition for a Masters degree. During my time in West Yorkshire I played in many parishes and for over two years I was Organ Scholar at Leeds Cathedral. I was pleased to be asked to compose for the reopening of the cathedral following restoration work. I sing with the Metropolitan Cathedral Cantata Choir. I also direct and accompany them. I help to promote liturgical music in my local Deanery and volunteer part-time in a school for children with physical disabilities. I also have several piano pupils. I believe music encourages people to work together and enriches their lives in a unique way. |
Saint Faith's Organ today
A previous organist of St Faith's described the organ's
specifications in 1998
Saint
Faith's Organ in 1900
An early newspaper
account of the instrument
ST. FAITH’S, WATERLOO. OPENING
OF A NEW ORGAN.
In celebration of the installation
of a new organ, a special service was last evening held at St.
Faith’s, Waterloo. The instrument, part of the splendid
gift of Mr. H. Douglas Horsfall, is a fine one, constructed by
Messrs. J. W. Walker and Sons, of London. It contains a
great organ, CC to C (61 notes), with the following stops: -
Open diapason, large scale 8ft., open diapason small scale
8ft., dulciama, wald flute principal 4ft., suabe flute 4ft.,
fifteenth 2ft. The swell organ contains – Open diapason
8ft., stopped diapason 8ft., echo gamba 8ft., voix celeste
8ft., principal principal 4ft., horn 8ft., oboe 8ft., flute
8ft. The whole of the interior construction is of the
most improved and modern character, and the total cost is
about £800, without the case, which has not yet been erected.
The Rev. C. C. Elcum, M.A., vicar of
St. Agnes’, Sefton Park, preached the sermon; and the Rev. T.
H. Baxter also officiated, Psalm 150 being sung to a special
setting by Mr. I. H. Stammers, organist and choirmaster of St.
Agnes’ Sefton Park, who dedicated it to Mr. George E. Lewis,
organist at St. Faith’s. The Rev. C. C. Elcum preached
on the work “Selah,” which, he said, had occasioned difference
of opinion. It pointed, in the general opinion, to a
climax at which human language failed. Such should be
the spirit of the service that evening.
At the close of the service Mr. I.
H. Stammers played the following selections on the new organ:-
Overture, “Athalia” (Handel); andante from the symphony “La
Reine de France” (Haydn); sonata No. 2, Allegro Moderato
Andante Finale and Fugue (Fink); Chorus of Angels (Sootson
Clark); prelude and fugue in A minor (J. S. Bach); finale
(Lemmens).
The Liverpool Mercury, Friday August 24 1900
The
Crosby Symphony Orchestra
Our local orchestra, established in 1942, performs three times a
year in St Faith's to large and appreciative audiences. The
CSO's illustrated website (click on
their name) provides full details of the Society's history,
programmes and personalities.
CLICK HERE for
the full concert schedule for 2014 and 2015, HERE for
the February 2015 concert flyer and HERE for the April 2015 concert
flyer. The 2016-2017 flyer is HERE The February 2017 flyer is HERE
The
Capriol Singers
This local choir, which started life at St Michael's Church,
Blundellsands, rehearses and performs locally and elsewhere.
Click on their name for their website, HERE
for the Capriol Singers' facebook page and HERE for their
twitter feed