‘Where there is devotional music, God is always at hand with His gracious presence.’
(J. S. Bach)
a vibrant musical tradition
The Church of the Resurrection strives to be a parish worshipping with excellence in sacred choral music
Music and Choir
At the Church of the Resurrection Swanbourne, music is an integral part of our traditional anglican worship. Our choir, the St Cecilia Singers, supports our worship through music in various ways. During our Choral Masses they sing the mass themselves; and as well as the Choral Masses they present anthems and motets from the centuries of Christian choral music, from the Middle Ages to the present.
During the past year the choir has sung masses by Byrd, Palestrina, Mozart, Haydn, Darke, and Howells, and anthems have included O Magnum Mysterium by Victoria, Christus Factus Est by Bruckner, and modern motets by Rutter, Whitacre and Arco Part. On particular Holy Days they have sung Faure’s Requiem, Ubi Caritas by Durufle and excerpts of Handel’s Messiah.
Saint Cecilia, after whom our choir is named, is the patron saint of music. Just as saints are those Christians particularly devoted to God, so the culture of our parish choir is to be particularly devoted to the ministry of music as a vehicle for the worship of God. The St Cecilia Singers consists of young, emerging singers of significant talent and dedication to sacred choral music. Their work at the Church of the Resurrection is vital to our liturgy, but also provides them with the opportunity to build their experience of choral music and learn about Christian worship.
Our 2025 Music programme
Sunday 23 March - MIssa Brevis by Lotti and O Vos Omnes by Victoria
Sunday 13 April (Palm Sunday) - Communion Setting in C by Standford and Hosanna Filio David by Victoria
Sunday 20 April (Easter Sunday) - Coronation Mass by Mozart and Worthy is the Lamb That Was Slain by Handel
Sunday 11th May - Ave Verum Corpus by Byrd
Sunday 8 June (Pentecost) - Mass in G by Schubert and Be Thou My Vision by Chilcott
Sunday 3rd August - Communion Setting (Archer) and For the Beauty of the Earth (Rutter)
Sunday 17th August - Little Organ Mass (Haydn) and Ave Maria (Dubra)
Sunday 28th September (St Michael and All Angels) - Missa Brevis (Gabrieli) and Give Us Wings of Faith (Whitbourn)
Sunday 2nd November (All Saints) - Missa Choralis (Liszt) and Gloria in Excelsis (Vivaldi)
Sunday 23rd November (Christ the King) - Sparrow Mass (Mozart) and King of Glory, King of Peace (Bach)
Wednesday 24th December (Christmas Eve Midnight Mass) - Darke in F and O Magnum Mysterium (Lauridsen)
Thursday 25th December (Christmas Day) - Darke in F and O Magnum Mysterium (Lauridsen)
The St Cecilia Singers currently consist of 8 members:
Tenors
Noah Hunich
Currently vacant
Sopranos
Currently vacant
Beth Redwood
Basses
Sam Claxton
Currently vacant
Altos
Emily Davis
Olivia Ferguson
We are currently looking for a tenor and a bass to join the St Cecilia Singer's. If you are interested, please contact the Director of Music through our contact page.
Church of the Resurrection