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Music at St. Matthew's

(St Matthew's is looking to recruit young boy and girl choristers to develop the high musical standards of our century long choral tradition. For further information, an informal meeting or audition, please contact the Director of Music).

For over one hundred years St Matthew's Church has been a focus of worship and prayer, with daily services and this pattern continues today. It is perhaps one of the most famous Churches in the country because of its longstanding choral tradition. On Sundays the choir complements the splendour of the building and worship with music from over four hundred years of rich choral heritage.

Built in 1893 in the Gothic style, St Matthew's Church has been at the forefront of contemporary art and music for over half a century. The choir began under Charles King, the first Director of Music, with an all-male choir right until recent times but with the demand for girls' choirs more recently in many cathedral and parish churches, St Matthew's now is supported by a mixed choir of all ages which hopes to be separated in the future.

Such was the regard that St Matthew's was held by many musicians, numerous eminent British composers composed major choral works that are still performed regularly in Churches and Cathedrals. Such composers who wrote for St Matthew's include, Tippett, Berkeley, Finzi, Leighton, Tavener, Howells and perhaps the most famous Benjamin Britten's Rejoice in the Lamb of 1943. More recently the choir have sung for Earl Spencer and performed at the splendid Lamport Hall. The Choir also performed recently for BBC1 on Boxing Day a special of seasonal music.