Father Preston recently reflected on Ordinary Time within the Church’s Liturgical year and shared his thoughts on all that is both ordinary and extraordinary in our lives.
Some of you know how much I appreciate the changing pace of summer, in that it can give us an opportunity, a ‘cause to pause’, and appreciate some of the ordinary, even-taken-for-granted moments, which are rushed through during the business of term time. Summertime traveling and visits ‘home’ are welcome additions to the treasure-chest of memories of past events and adventures.
As we have been awaiting the start of the Saint Thomas Girl Chorister Course I have been recalling my own first summer course away from home aged 11, when I joined a large group of choristers from all over the country for a Royal School of Church Musicintensive residential week at Darley Dale, in a boarding school set in the beautiful County of Derbyshire. My only experience of boarding schools up to that point was based on books, with stories filled with pranks and mischief! And my only experience of singing was at school and in my local parish choir. I was, therefore, a little nervous. However, this soon changed as we all entered the rhythm of meals and fellowship, rehearsals and services in the school chapel. Over the course of that week, we were no longer simply a group of choristers from different parts of the country, but a choir that sang (in the words of the motto of the RSCM) ‘with the Spirit and with understanding also’. We were no longer strangers but, in some cases, became lasting friends, proven when I returned to the course a more confident chorister a few years later. While I didn’t it recognize at the time, those choral experiences played a formative part in my growing love of daily worship, as well as an appreciation of belonging, for my local church and choir was part of a much wider faith community, where ‘within our music God is glorified’.
We are delighted that the 2025 Saint Thomas Girl Chorister Course is about to begin. It will run from JULY 19-27. This year’s course will be co-directed by our resident Choir School colleagues, Margaret White and Claire Griffin, and Maxine Thévenot will join us as Guest Music Director in this our 20th anniversary of the course.
This year, we especially look forward to welcoming Alumni, as well greeting new choristers, some of whom will take on new leadership opportunities within this annual residential program at the Choir School. The Saint Thomas Girl Chorister Course will once again offer an intensive choral experience for girls ages 12-18 from North America and beyond. Throughout the course, both choristers and staff will live at the Saint Thomas Choir School and participate in music history and theory classes, private vocal coaching, and join together in multiple choral rehearsals and in leading worship for several services at Saint Thomas Church. They will also enjoy a number of girl chorister course traditions, such as Compline by Candlelight in the school library, and attending a surprise Broadway show. When not singing, the Choristers will be enjoying fellowship and meals together, and an exploration of various sites around the city.
In the words of the RSCM Choristers prayer, please pray for all our resident choristers this coming week, “Bless O Lord your servants that minister in your temple, grant that what they sing with their lips may they believe in their hearts and what they believe in their hearts may they show forth in their lives. Amen.”
Tuesday, July 22 at 5:30pm
Solemn Eucharist for the Feast of St. Mary Magdalene:
The 30th Anniversary of the Episcopal Ordination of Bishop Andrew St. JohnThursday, July 24 at 5:30pm
Festal Evensong for the Eve of St. James the ApostleFriday, July 25 at 5:30pm
Festal Evensong for St. James’ DaySunday, July 27 at 11am & 3pm
Festal Eucharist & Festal Evensong
