At St. James's we believe music to be a gift of God and so all music which takes place in our church is offered to God in worship and thanksgiving. The ministry of music is an extremely important part of our parish’s life and witness. In this, as in many regards, the church is a major focus in the local community. Local schools, community organisations and other music-makers seek to use the church for musical occasions.

Music in the church was formally reviewed in 2001, as a number of exciting ideas had come out of the Mission Action Plan. A Music Review was held led by Huw Williams, the Sub-Organist of St. Paul's Cathedral. Huw drew attention to "the model of combining different resources so that they work together, and afford variety and overlap". As emerged earlier in the year during the Mission Review, there was strong support for developing opportunities to attract children into musical activities, and offer them and their parents opportunities to become more closely involved in the church. Read the article Music Review. The conclusion was that there should be as much diversity as possible in music, and therefore as much choice as possible for all the congregation and the parish; that we should encourage tolerance, sympathy and listening in order to understand each other's tastes and styles as part of worship and of our mission, and how music can enhance faith; and that we should cultivate and use all the talents that are available to us, of every sort, whatever they are. A further music review was held in 2003. Read the article Review of Church Music. After this the June 2003 Spire reported: "It was very clear that there had been considerable growth and diversification in our music, nurtured by the considerable talents of a number of musicians who have worked very hard to stimulate the development of music in the parish as part of worship. The growth of the choir, the development of the children's choir, the blossoming of the Travellers, the performances of many styles of music in church, and the concerts and recitals, as well as the music as part of services, has greatly increased the breadth of music at St. James's."

St. James's Players

There are very few parish churches that can boast such a range and quality of musical activities. We are lucky to have a wide range of skilled and keen musicians who contribute to the musical life of the church. So many people of all ages are involved and the music covers a wide range of styles – truly a mixture of ancient and modern! We have a thriving choir, orchestra (St. James's Players) and children’s choir as well as other informal music groups. We host recitals and concerts by local groups, as well as by visiting musicians, and have put on recitals which involved occasional Friday evening recitals, featuring musicians associated with St. James’s and also occasionally guest artists. There is a fine three-manual Bishop organ, reworked and extended in 1997, a boudoir grand piano and a clavinova. St. James's is continually keen to widen the range of its musical life and enhance the inclusive value of musical participation. It is particularly interested in expanding the church’s mission through developing musical links with local primary and secondary schools.

Music takes an important part at Parish and All-age Communion on Sundays, at weddings and funerals and each year on the following occasions: Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Day, Ascension Day, the Patronal Festival in July, All Souls, Christmas Carol Service, Christmas Eve Crib Service, Christmas Eve Midnight Mass and Christmas Day. Music is also important in occasional services, such as a Service of Music for Ascension, Pentecost and Trinity with music by Philips, Mendelssohn, Monteverdi, Tallis, Sheppard, Stravinsky, Tchaikovsky, Glinka and Palestrina on Trinity Sunday and the Presentation of Christ in the Temple (Candlemas), a Choral Evensong sung by Concordia Voices.

The organ

Music in church tends to be very visible - certainly audible! What you see and hear during a service though is the tip of quite a large iceberg with nine tenths of the work having already happened in advance, usually weeks or months beforehand. The vicar will have chosen the hymns and the organist will have chosen and practised the music to be played at various points in that particular service. The music is carefully chosen to fit with the liturgical theme of each service. The organist also makes sure that the organ is maintained and tuned. The anthems to be sung by the choir are also chosen with the service themes in mind. The organist suggests anthems for two or three months ahead and these are considered by the worship and music committee. They are rehearsed during the weekly Friday evening or Sunday morning choir practices. Choir members show a good deal of regular commitment, especially on cold, wet winter evenings, or equally on warm, sunny summer ones! On the first Sunday of the month, you may arrive early enough to hear the orchestra, the St. James’s Players, practising for the service. All the hymns and other music have been arranged for the orchestra by their conductor, Martin Hinckley, with the parts created on computer and uploaded to the church website. Members of the orchestra are emailed details about their next service so they can print off and practise any new pieces.

The church has also become a rehearsal venue and is the regular home for the chamber choir Concordia Voices and from time to time for various other groups. Concordia is a professionally directed, amateur chamber choir of approximately forty voices. Its repertoire spans over four centuries, from the Renaissance to the present day, and includes a wide range of sacred and secular music. The choir is based in Hampton Hill, rehearses in St. James's and has performed many concerts in the church. It has also sung during some services and given a Good Friday Meditation of verse and music, including the Allegri Miserere and gives an annual evensong for Candlemas.

As can be seen, the musical life of the church flourishes. There is a Music and Worship Committee which meets several times a year to oversee the various activities and help with their planning.

Historical Background to Music at St. James's
For accounts of the history of music at St. James's, read the pages The History of St. James's Church Choir, The History of St. James's Church Organ and The History of Organist/Choirmasters at St. James's.