One of Australia’s finest liturgical choirs, from Christ Church St Laurence, Sydney, will sing Evensong and Benediction for the Eve of The Baptism of the Lord at All Saints Margaret Street, London W1W 8JG on Saturday 10 January 2015.
The choir is touring various churches and other venues in the UK, Belgium and France, and will spend a week in residence at St Paul’s (past visits have often included residencies at Westminster Abbey); they will also sing in Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.
Christ Church S. Laurence, Sydney, is a sister parish to All Saints Margaret Street (actually a slightly older sister, completed in 1845) and the Director of Music, Dr Neil McEwan, and Organist Peter Jewkes – a frequent visitor to All Saints – are former colleagues of Fr Michael Bowie, the Assistant Priest. Christ Church is a city centre parish, on the edge of Railway Square, just opposite Central Station, with a tradition of open welcome to all comers and a distinctive Anglican style.
If you don’t know All Saints already, it is a landmark Victorian building just north of London’s Oxford Street, 2 minutes’ walk from Oxford Circus and worth a visit; the architect, William Butterfield, also designed St Paul’s Cathedral in Melbourne.
People are welcome to conclude their Saturday shopping with some fine music by joining the choir for worship at All Saints in the recently restored and newly re-lit building.
