Back in tune

One Wiltshire church choir, which has been out of action since the lockdown was introduced in March, couldn't wait to return.

The choir of the historic St John’s Church in the centre of Devizes, which in recent years has sung on BBC Radio 4’s Sunday Worship, at St Paul’s Cathedral, and in major churches in Latvia, began with a ‘pilot’ group singing at the 10.30am service on Sunday 30th August, and plans sing at worship every Sunday under a ‘new normal’.

Chris Totney, Director of Devizes St John’s Choir, said:

“Both our many youth members and our adults have felt the absence of singing together during the past five months, and it is wonderful to be able to give them a chance to demonstrate their skills and to lead people at St John’s in worship.

“Live singing has been shown to have all sorts of health and spiritual benefits both to performers and those who listen. It is a relief and an enormous privilege that we will again be singing to the glory of God.

“Precautions are being to be taken to ensure worship is Covid-19-safe, in line with government and national Church recommendations. The most visible changes will be that singers from different households will sit at least 2 metres apart, and that the choir will be split into 2 groups singing on alternate Sundays. Many less visible steps are also being taken as a result of extensive planning behind the scenes."

Singing by members of the congregation remains banned under government and Church of England guidelines.

If your choir is back, let us know and send us a picture.