Marshfield Benefice

Music plays an important role in the life of the Church of St Mary’s Marshfield, and we are blessed to have a team of talented and dedicated instrumentalists, pianists, organists, and singers supporting and uplifting our worship.

The worship in our weekly 10.30am services is led by the piano and accomplished instrumentalists. Evening services are accompanied by the organ.

St Mary’s continues its rare tradition as a rural parish church, in holding a choral evensong based on the Book of Common Prayer most weeks. A small, dedicated Evensong Choir accompanies these more traditional 6 pm services.  

We continue to welcome singers from the wider area to swell our ranks forming an Occasional Choir for special evening services such as our annual All Souls Remembrance and Advent service. Rehearsals for these take place immediately preceding the services.

Groups of our singers also occasionally come together to form Special Occasion Choirs to lead the music at weddings, funerals, and memorial services. Rehearsals are organised for these services around the specific event.

A larger group of singers from the local area are invited to join our “Open Access” Choir for our annual big Carol, Harvest, and Good Friday Services. We usually have four or five rehearsals leading up to the services on Thursday evenings at 7.45 pm in the church. We sometimes enjoy rehearsing, with soloists, for larger works, such as Faure’s “Requiem”, Handel’s “Messiah” and Stainer’s “Crucifixion”.

Local primary school-aged children are invited to come together to form the vibrant Christingle Choir. We rehearse on Tuesdays in December from 6-7 pm leading up to the popular and busy Christingle service on Christmas Eve at 5 pm. Instrumentalists from secondary school ages upwards are welcome to join the accompanying “orchestra” for the service.