Hymn practice 14 January 2018

BAFTA

Our organist Nicholas Chalmers

An engagingly enthusiastic and versatile musician, Nicholas Chalmers will be conducting a new production of Mozart’s The Magic Flute, at Nevill Holt, Britain’s newest summer opera festival.

Read more in the Telegraph . . . 

and at www.nicholaschalmers.com

A server in the 1960s

Ed Zanders as a server at St Judes c. 1965. Ed lived on the Suburb from 1954 to 1969. His A Suburb Childhood is a personal memoir of those days written for the Suburb centenary year in 2007. He has recently given three paintings by his mother Beth to the church.

Ed describes his time as a server at St Jude's:

"St Jude's church became a significant part of my life from 1960 to 1969. My mother and I used to join the congregation at Sunday services and then I became an altar boy or server. This was rather like an apprenticeship starting as boat boy, who carries the incense in a metal container to pass to the Thurifer who distributes the incense. The next stages were Acolytes holding candles, Crucifers with a cross, the Thurifer and finally Master of Ceremonies. I enjoyed the ceremony under the direction of Frank Parlett, a kind man of whom I have fond memories. Easter was always busy, with special ceremonies held over four days culminating in the Sunday which was enlivened with trumpets as well as the choir and organ. Being Thurifer involved lighting charcoal squares in the thurible which was a metal container on a chain with holes to let out the smoke from burning incense. In keeping with my pyrotechnic tendencies, I used to set up the maximum amount of charcoal possible, adding spoonfuls of incense to create a massive cloud of smoke that I would then pass over the congregation in an attempt to liven things up.

Disruptions to the services stay in the mind as well; the electrical system was always a bit unreliable, and one evensong the lights went out completely. Luckily there were enough candles burning to keep the service going, but by complete coincidence, just as "let there be light" was being read out, the lights came back on without any human intervention. The other incident was the more painful sight of a poor server colleague who managed a projectile vomit right across the area in front of the altar. The mess was hastily cleared up by the verger with a mop and bucket.

When I started going to St Jude's, the vicar was Bill Masters, a man with a larger than life personality and a great sense of fun. He left in 1962, later becoming Canon of Gibraltar. His successor was Robin Dunhill, a member of the tobacco and luxury goods family. Both of these clergymen and their curates presided over a thriving church with a great musical tradition.

The organist and choirmaster was Charles Proctor, a rather serious and intimidating man, who nevertheless produced some wonderful ecclesiastical music. This was not surprising, since he was originally talent-spotted by Proms founder Sir Henry Wood and had a long career as a composer, organist, conductor and teacher at the Trinity College of Music. St Jude's has obviously maintained this tradition and is a well-known North London venue for concerts and recordings."

Ed serving at the high altar. Fr Robin Dunhill celebrating.

Ed's sister Angela at the Crossing

Benedict Kearns

Congratulations to Benedict, who is a pupil at Mill Hill School Foundation in North London, and Acting Choir Master at St Jude's, on his outstanding achievement in gaining the Diploma of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (DipABRSM), with Distinction. The Diploma is a professional qualification, normally taken by students who are already at music college, but Benedict was just 15 at the time of the exam which makes his success all the more remarkable. The exam was held at Imperial College just before Christmas, and consisted of a viva voce, sight-reading test and a 35-minute recital – a varied programme of music by Scarlatti, Beethoven, Debussy, Rachmaninov and Copland – which Benedict chose to play from memory. As part of his preparations for the exam, he practised at least two hours a day (no mean achievement with his school work and other activities) and gave recitals at both Westminster Abbey Choir School (where he had been Head Chorister) and at Mill Hill School as part of the Friday lunchtime recital series.

While the immediate future is firmly focussed on GCSEs, music is clearly a major part of normal life – aged 12 he had already reached the level of a Grade 8 High Distinction on the piano, and subsequently gained top marks for Grade 8 flute and voice. On Saturdays Benedict attends the Junior Department of the Royal Academy of Music as well as studying conducting with Peter Stark. Conducting has become Benedict's main passion, so we are proud to have him at St Jude's. Benedict is clearly one to watch (and to listen to!).

For information about Mill Hill School Foundation Open days please view www.millhill.org.uk

The St George's Altar

The St George's altar in the south east aisle.

The Parish Paper of January 2nd 1925 (No 674) briefly mentions a "new Chapel of St George". That of April 30th 1926 (No 743) records "the Festival of St George of England was fittingly observed by a High Service celebrated in the dear little chapel at the West end".

Barbara Britton in her Brief Guide to St Jude's (October 1979) records that the St George's altar stood originally at the 'south east end' of the church until the building of the apse in 1923. This probably means at what is now the entrance to the St John Chapel (opened in 1923) with the east end of the south aisle forming a 'chapel'. The choir vestry at this time was at the west end.

The 'north transept' was occupied from 1923 by the organ (brought from St Jude's, Whitechapel) in a gallery specially designed by Lutyens. The position proved unsatisfactory and it changed places with the St George's altar in 1931.

This old photograph shows the present (but clearly a different) St George's altar on the north transept wall. The original horse memorial stands to the left. There is no sign of the statue of St George. The presence of the painting commemorating Michael Rennie in the City of Benares lifeboat helps date the photograph to after 1942.

Come and sing on 5 February 2011

COME AND SING DAY

A choral workshop directed by John Rutter

Saturday 5 February 2011

11:00 to 16:45

St Jude-on-the-Hill,

Central Square,

Hampstead Garden Suburb,

London NW11 7AH

Nearest underground station Golders Green. Visit www.stjudeonthehill.com
and click on ‘How to find us’ for map and directions.

A day of enjoyment and instruction for all who sing in choirs or enjoy singing. John Rutter leads us through choral music old and new, some of his own compositions and a few surprises. Music for the day will be provided and it will be possible to purchase it afterwards at a good discount, as well as CDs of John Rutter’s choir The Cambridge Singers.

Cost £20 to include tea and coffee, plus £5 for lunch if required. Proceeds will go to the St Jude’s central heating appeal fund. Advance registration essential.

Enquiries to Jennifer Radice, 020 8455 1025, jennifer@theradices.co.uk;
or Helen Roose, 020 8458 4793, helenroose@tiscali.co.uk.

Click on poster to enlarge and print

Handel in Little Stanmore

On Sunday 15 November the St Jude's choir under the direction of Nic Chalmers joined with the choir of St Lawrence's Stanmore at a Choral Evensong to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the death of Handel. Handel was resident composer to the Duke of Chandos who had purchased the nearby Cannons estate in 1715 and whose family mausoleum adjoins the church. Our connection being through our organ scholar from Henrietta Barnett School, Anna Steppler, whose mother directs the choir at St Lawrence's.

Like St Jude's, St Lawrence's has a painted interior - although a rather grander one. The Duke employed fashionable artists of his day to decorate his great mansion of Cannons, then under construction (and since demolished). Those same artists - Antonio Bellucci, Louis Laguerre, Francesco Sleter - created the dramatic interior of the church. Walls and ceiling are covered with paintings of biblical scenes, some brilliantly coloured, others in sepia and grisaille, with trompe l'oeil used to considerable effect. The paintings were recently cleaned and restored. The splendid woodwork includes an organ case carved by Grinling Gibbons.

The Vicar of St Jude's particularly enjoyed being able to observe Divine Service in an eighteenth-century manner from the Chandos Pew - actually a kind of royal box in the gallery at the west end of the church (flanked by smaller boxes for bodyguards and flunkies).

Organ Recital by Nic Chalmers

St Cecilia’s Day 22 November 2009

Nicholas Chalmers – Organist and Director of Music, St. Jude-on-the-Hill

Pièce d’Orgue (BWV 572) J. S. Bach

Larghetto from Organ Concerto in F major G. F. Handel

Sonata in C minor, Op. 65, No. 2 F. Mendelssohn
Grave, Adagio, Allegro maestoso e vivace, Fuga- Allegro moderato

Suite from ‘Henry V’ W. Walton (arr. Robert Gower)
March, Passacaglia, Touch her soft lips and part, March

Symphony No.5 in F minor, Op. 42 C. M. Widor
Allegro vivace, Adagio and Toccata


Nicholas Chalmers is the Assistant Chorus Master of English National Opera, and Musical Director of Second Movement (a London based music and drama production company). He directs the music at St Jude-on-the-Hill, Hampstead Garden Suburb. From 2003 until July 2008, Nicholas was the Director of Music at Westminster Abbey Choir School and Musical Director of the Bromley Youth Choirs.

Nicholas began his musical training as a chorister at Tewkesbury Abbey. After a year as Organ Scholar at Chichester Cathedral, Nicholas studied music at Oxford University where he was Organ Scholar of Lincoln College and conductor of the Oxford University Chamber Choir.

After graduating, Nicholas moved to the organ scholarship at St Paul's Cathedral where he spent a year working under John Scott, teaching in the Cathedral School, was Musical Director of the Yateley Choral Society and Head of Chapel Music at Forest school, east London. In August 2001, Nicholas moved to Lodi, Northern Italy, where he spent a year working with the choir of the cathedral and studying with the harpsichordist, Laura Bertani, at the Piacenza Conservatoire. He returned to London in 2002, and for six months was the assistant organist of Westminster Abbey.

From 2007-2008 Nicholas was the choral conducting scholar of the London Symphony Chorus. Nicholas has directed two productions as musical director of Hand Made Opera; Le Nozze di Figaro (2002) and Il Barbiere di Siviglia (2003). For Second Movement he has directed Mozart and Salieri (October 2004) and Trouble in Tahiti (June 2005) The Medium and Impresario (January 2006) to wide critical acclaim and directed their triple bill of Les Deux Aveugles, Rothschild’s Violin and The Knife’s Tears at the Covent Garden Film Studios (May 2007). With Chelsea Opera Group Nicholas has been chorus master for Beatrice di Tenda (March 2007), Maria Stuarda (November 2007) and Macbeth (March 2008). In addition to his work at ENO, Nicholas works regularly with the BBC Singers and leads numerous choral workshops throughout the UK.

Listen out for Nic conducting the BBC Singers live on ‘The Choir’ –Radio 3 at 6pm on Sunday, 6th December and live on Radio 3 Lunchtime concert at 2pm on Wednesday, 16th December.

The Organ

Built by Henry "Father" Willis (one of England’s most distinguished organ builders) the organ in St Jude’s was originally installed in St Jude’s Whitechapel in 1899. It was moved to St Jude’s in Hampstead Garden Suburb when the Whitechapel church was demolished. Originally installed at the west end of the church on a gallery, it was subsequently moved to its present position on the north and south sides of the choir. It underwent a major restoration in 1935 by Hill Norman & Beard. A further comprehensive restoration and refurbishment was completed in October 2002. David Wells Organ Builders of Liverpool undertook the complete overhaul and refurbishment of the organ. The work included a new drawstop console to replace the previous "theatre organ" style console.