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Music

Music is a vital part of worship in the Anglican church, and All Saints’ seeks to keep alive a tradition of choral singing and congregational participation without neglecting a more informal style of singing during family and children’s services.  A small choir is on duty every Sunday morning, and it is reinforced with guest singers for special occasions.  Certain local groups regularly sing at our services, among which are the Campion Quartet, the New Chamber Singers and the choir of St. George’s British International School, while we also have the pleasure of welcoming visiting choirs from all over the world to lead our singing on many an occasion.
On the first Sunday of the month from October to June there is a series of Organ Vespers when professional organists play a programme of organ music prior to a traditional Choral Evensong.  This series is organised by the church’s titular organist Wijnand van de Pol, and All Saints’ is also fortunate to have the services of another distinguished musician as assistant organist, Gabriele Catalucci.
The church is much in demand as a concert venue, and a wide variety of music can be heard on any given week during the season, not only with local groups on a regular basis, such as the Accademia Opera Italiana, but also visiting performers under the auspices of the church, such as the Studio Baldy from Oxford.  Details can usually be obtained from the church office and events promoted by the church can be found on the Coming Events page of this web-site.

History of the All Saints’ organ

1894
The Revd. Wilfrid Stanton presented to All Saints, on trust, a large organ built by Peter Conacher & Co. of Huddersfield, Yorkshire, England. The instrument, with three manuals and pedal, stood in the space now occupied by the Blessed Sacrament Chapel.
1913
The Chaplain and Church Committee of the day saw to the transfer of the instrument to the hitherto empty gallery, where it now is, above the chancel and south aisle. An electric blower was fitted for the first time.
1959
The organ, having been untouched for four entire years during the 1940/44 closure of the church, needed a complete overhaul. This was entrusted to the Italian firm Vincenzo Mascioni of Cuvio, Varese. The instrument, inaugurated on November 9th 1960, was completely rebuilt, with a new electric-pneumatic action and a new console with three manuals and pedal.
1979
The organ was dismantled by the Mascioni firm for thorough cleaning and the releathering of all the valves. The overhaul was completed in 1980.
1994 and 2007
The organ was again dismantled by the Mascioni firm for cleaning and re-intonation.
 Disposition:
The organ has electric action with 3 manuals of 61 keys (C - c4) and a pedal of 32 keys (C - g1).The names of the stops are written in English.