RVW and Songs of Praise

This new Educational Project from THE WORKS (www.the-works.org) was launched on the last day of August at St. Marylebone, Vaughan Williams's London Parish Church. The Youth Choir sang items from the famous little blue hymn-book: Mine eyes have seen the glory to Martin Shaw's superb tune, Daisies are our silver, and the 24-year-old Jan Struther's When a knight won his spurs – the picture shows Gavin Roberts demonstrating 'the ogres of greed'. David Owen Norris’s sermon considered RVW's belief (expressed in the Preface to the English Hymnal) that the provision of Fine Melody is a Moral rather than a Musical issue. The service music included RVW's Mass in G minor, O taste and see, and the Prelude and Fugue in C minor.

In the evening, children in Andover capped a week of practice with a service of Songs of Praise favourites. The Revd. Chris Rankine preached on RVW and the Arts and Crafts Movement.

As part of the 7Locks Festival in September and October, the Songs of Praise project will visit five schools and their Parish Churches in Northamptonshire. Services are also planned in Romsey, Chelmsford, Oxford and Cambridge.

Choirmaster Gavin Roberts shows how to sing 'The Ogres of Greed'!