December 2007

Many visitors were present in church for the Choir's autumn recital, including some of the `big names' in Irish Church Music. Much praise was lavished on those who presented the recital - not only on the Choir, but also on Robert Thompson, both for his choral training and for his superb playing. We should be grateful to the Almighty for the excellent standard of music we have in St Molua's. Many thanks to our musicians, and to all who supported them.

July 2007

During the past twelve months the choir have been singing Choral Evensong roughly once a month, and many favourable comments have been passed by those who attend the service, as to how this enhances the atmosphere for worship. Robert and the choir work very hard to keep up this standard; Choral Evensong is now rarely sung in the parish churches of this country, and we are indeed fortunate to have a choir that can maintain this valuable tradition.

December 2006

Cathy has recently joined the ranks as an alto, and treble David now has Peter to keep him company. A warm welcome to both new members.

The choir recently sang at the wedding of Mark and Lynn in St Donard's Parish Church. They were joined by members of "Renaissance", and sang some superb music, including Parry's "I was Glad" and the beautiful and mysterious "Ubi Caritas". Robert wrote a descant to "Be thou my vision" for the occasion.

Later this month the choir will be giving a Christmas Recital at St John's Donegore, Templepatrick, County Antrim.

The choir will also have a busy month here at home, with services for both Advent and Christmas, including the Advent Procession, the Service of Nine Lessons and Carols, and the Midnight Eucharist on Christmas Eve. Also, we now sing Choral Evensong once a month. You can find details of all these services on the Public Worship page.

November 2006

A very big thank you to those who supported the Choir's autumn recital in October. A lot of hard work was put into the event, and those who attended, both parishioners and visitors, had nothing but praise for the standard of singing throughout the evening.

The main work in the programme was the Faure Requiem, for which the organist was Philip Stopford, and the soloists Rachel Thompson and Roger Martin. All the music was French, the choir also singing Faure's Cantique de Jean Racine.

Thank you also to the ladies of the Choir, who provided a magnificent supper for everyone in the Hamilton Hall afterwards. This was Robert's first recital with St Molua's Choir, and one which proved his excellent choir-training ability. Well done, Robert - and well done, Choir !

March 2006

A very special presentation was made to former Organist & Choirmaster Jim Drennan, when he and his wife Betty attended a dinner held in their honour and organised by the Choir, at the Belfast Boat Club. The Choir had commissioned Dr Harry Grindle to compose a piece of music to mark Jim's standing down after almost 34 years in the post, and they sang the special music after the meal.

After the "performance" choir member Jenny presented Jim with a bound copy of the work, and Betty with a beautiful arrangement of flowers. The words of the anthem, "King of glory, King of peace, I will love thee" are a fitting tribute to Jim, who has given so many years of his life to the service of Almighty God through church music - Jim held his first organist post at the age of 16.

During the speeches the Rector said how much pleasure he had gained from working with Jim over the years, and commented on how he had built the choir of St Molua's into one of the finest parish choirs in the Church of Ireland. It was an emotional occasion, and one not to be forgotten by any of those who were there.