Choir and Organ
The Choir of St Michael's Betchworth & St Mary's Buckland - October 2022
Choir
Our choir sings at services in St Michael’s Betchworth and St Mary’s Buckland. Historically we had separate choirs, which merged about 2012. The legacy is in the colour of our robes: Blue at Buckland at Olive green at Betchworth. We sing hymns and anthems with parts: Bass and Tenor for the men, Sopranos and Altos for the ladies. At St Michael’s Betchworth, on the 3rd Sunday of the month at 5pm, we have Choral Evensong with a choral setting of the Magnificat and Nunc Dimitis, choral Responses and an anthem.
At Buckland’s less formal Iona-style service, we have a group of singers, not wearing choir-robes, at the back of the church. The music in in unison, accompanied by a pianist and flautist, promoting a gentle acoustic style.
Organ
Buckland Organ was installed in 1911. It has been well maintained and improved, including a major overhaul completed in 2023.
Back in 2014, Betchworth completed their investment in a superior organ built by Kenneth Tickell & Co Ltd. It comprises 1,602 pipes. This attractive new organ is now one of the best church organs in Surrey. Betchworth also has a Steinway grand piano.
For both St Mary’s Buckland and St Michael’s Betchworth, our Musical Director, Choir master and Organist is a Buckland resident, Richard Calver.
Whilst some of our choir members live in Buckland and Betchworth, others join us from their homes in the surrounding area: Brockham, Leigh, Reigate, Dorking, Kingswood and Bookham to name but a few locations. If you are interested in joining our choir to sing in two wonderful churches, do join us! Choir practice is most weeks on Friday night at 5pm (excluding August).