Music
Choir | Singing Group | Pipe Organ & Pianos | Church Musician
Music has played a key part in Carrs Lane's long life, and continues to do so. The music for services and various other events is overseen by the Church Musician.
Concerts and Workshops
A wide variety of concerts and workshops is offered through the year, ranging from chamber music by two musicians, to whole symphony orchestras; from African drumming to dance. Have a look at the News section for further details.
Choir
The Choir leads the singing at morning services on one Sunday each month (not the third Sunday – see Singing Group below). There is usually an anthem, and on special occasions, such as during Advent or at Easter, there may also be an introit. The choir sings a wide range of music, from Plainsong chant and Renaissance motets to modern anthems and worship songs. Hymn singing is an important element of the worship.
The choir is directed by the Church Musician, and choir practice is on Friday evenings (19:00-20:00) and Sunday mornings (10.00 am). New singers are always welcome: contact the Church Musician via the church office for more information.
Over Holy Week in 2011, the choir collaborated with the choir of Broadway URC, Walsall, to sing Stainer's Crucifixion. Owing to the success of this, they again collaborated with the Broadway choir in 2012, to sing Fauré's Requiem and Cantique de Jean Racine, on Palm Sunday at Broadway URC, and on Good Friday at Carrs Lane.
Overseas Links: Two links with foreign congregations have developed through the choir. For over 20 years members have exchanged visits with a choir in south-western Germany; most recently, a large group from the choir and congregation visited Germany in September 2011. We have also exchanged visits with a choir in South Africa.
Singing Group
Only one half-hour rehearsal per month!
Come and join us if you enjoy singing with a group (we are about 14 in number) - easy contemporary worship songs - singing in unison - no auditions - no need to be able to read music. Meet in church at 9.45am on the third Sunday of each month, to prepare items for the service which follows.
Why not give us a try - no pressure to be committed for ever! Contact our Music Director Phil Parkin via the church office if you need any more information, or just turn up on a third Sunday at 9.45 am.
Pipe Organ and Pianos
We are fortunate in possessing a very fine 3-manual pipe organ, built in 1970 by Hill, Norman & Beard, and incorporating some much earlier pipes from the previous church building. We have a high quality Yamaha grand piano, and a Technics digital piano. Further details can be found here.
Church Musician
Tim Batty was appointed Church Musician in October 2010, and has sought to broaden the musical experiences offered at Carrs Lane, both during Sunday and Wednesday services, and also by establishing a regular programme of concerts and workshops open to all. Details of these can be found on the News page. Tim is assisted at Carrs Lane by Phil Parkin.
Tim is studying for a PhD in hydrogeology at the University of Birmingham, having studied Environmental Geoscience at the University of Edinburgh. He has played the piano since he was 7, and the organ since age 14, initially taking lessons at Carlisle Cathedral, and later as Organ Scholar of St Giles' Cathedral, Edinburgh. He has held a variety of posts as an organist and/or chorister, gaining experience in all the major denominations in the UK.