‘Exceptional’ junior choir debut at Holbeach Parish Church

A new junior choir at All Saints’ Church in Holbeach gave an “exceptional and inspiring” performance at its first act of worship.

Eighteen members, aged 9-11 years, sang before a congregation of 100.

As part of the service, the children took part in a drama telling the story of Noah, which concluded with two songs from the popular cantata Captain Noah and his Floating Zoo by Joseph Horowitz.
Individual children led other parts of the service and a group of them formed a recorder group and played prior to the service and also accompanied two hymns.

The Rt Rev Nicholas Chamberlain, the Bishop of Grantham, presented the children with their first choir certificates.

A church spokesman said: “The enthusiasm and hard work of the children really paid off and they gave an exceptional and inspiring performance – we are immensely proud of them all.
“Our aim is to provide young people with a quality musical education free of charge and to encourage them to join our robed choir and take a full role in the life of the church.”

The children – recruited from two primary schools and through the church – joined the choir in April. They have been rehearsing every Friday during term time and, as part of each rehearsal, they learn to play the recorder and have an introduction to music theory, as well as singing.
The choir is led by director of music Barry Lancaster, with help from Gill Graper, Kim Biggs and Rev Rosamund Seal.

In September the children will be invited to join the church’s robed choir and sing at Sunday services once a month as well as occasionally leading All-Age Worship.