Below is some information about our Choir.  If you are interested in full details about music at St Mary's including further information about the Choir, Organ, current Music Lists etc, please click here to visit our music site.

The Choir has some 40 regular members including a small number who are at University or live elsewhere but join us when they are in Eastbourne.

As well as singing at St Mary’s the Choir sometimes sings in the local community, in hospitals and nursing homes, and at local hotels at Christmastide. Members sing in events organized by the Royal School of Church Music,the Sussex Church Music Foundation and at the Eastbourne District Choirs Festival. In 1999 the Choir undertook a week’s singing tour in Switzerland and Northern Italy and Cathedral visits have taken place to Ely, Worcester, Lichfield, Portsmouth, Southwark, St Paul’s and Chichester. The Choir is affiliated to the Royal School of Church Music.

Rehearsals:

Thursdays - Children 6.00 p.m to 7.30p.m., Adults 7.00-8.30 p.m. There is also a short rehearsal thirty minutes before each sung service and forty five minutes before each fully choral service. Additional rehearsals may be called from time to time.

Services:

The main weekly choral services are the Parish Eucharist with Motet at 9.45 a.m. and Prayer Book Evensong at 6.30 p.m. Evensong is fully choral at least once per month and the choir sings a setting of the Canticles. An anthem is sung at every service. Additional special services include Advent Sunday, Christmas, Epiphany, Ash Wednesday, Holy Week and Easter, Ascension Day, Corpus Christi, All Saints Day and the Mayor’s Civic Service in May. The Choir also sings at some weddings and funerals. There is a growing Junior Choir, under the leadership of Sarah Potter, which follows the Royal School of Church Music 'Voice for Life' scheme. Junior members are paid for each rehearsal or service they attend on a sliding scale in accordance with experience.

It is accepted that attendance has to be balanced with other family and work commitments, though, traditionally, members achieve a high level of attendance throughout the year. We are always happy to discuss the level of commitment with individual singers and would not put off good singers who are unable to make a 100% commitment to the Choir.

If you would like further information or are interested in joining, please contact our Organist and Director of Music, Victor Potter,FNMSM, CertRSCM, FASC, LGMS on 01323 643097, find him in Church after a service or email music@stmaryseastbourne.com