Music

The Choirs

Church Choir

St. Elisabeth’s Church maintains a choral tradition of a high standard, with a repertoire of music spanning the centuries from medieval plainsong to modern music. The choir consists of around twenty people of all ages and from all walks of life who share a common love of making music together. Their primary responsibility is to maintain a pattern of regular choral services from week to week, including the main sung Sunday Eucharist, and regular Evensong and Benediction, and weekday feasts. This year we are planning a series of trips to sing services in different churches over summer, and also recording a CD.
Anybody is welcome to join the choir; experience of singing in choirs in not necessary, nor is the ability to read music. Much more important is enthusiasm for sacred music. Children under the age of twelve come to the first half of choir practice, and sing at the Sunday Eucharist twice a month. On the other Sundays they sing the Introit, and then join Junior Church.
The choir rehearse between 6:30 and 8:15 on Friday evening (with a tea break half way through!), and also occasional extra rehearsals at busy times. If you would like to find out more, come to practice (entrance through the Sacristy door) or contact the Choirmaster, Philip Waddington, on 07792 150394

Reddish Choral Society

Reddish Choral Society were formed in 1973 by Roger Paine, Organist of St. Elisabeth’s, as the ‘United Choirs of Reddish’, for a one-off performance of Handel’s Messiah. The choir continued beyond this concert, and was re-named Reddish Choral Society. It now numbers about forty adults who perform three concerts a year, as well as joining with the Church choir for special events. Recent performances have included Maunder’s Olivet to Calvary, the Faure Requiem, and Stainer’s Crucifixion, for which they joined with the church choir, and other singers from the Reddish area. The Choral Society rehearse on Wednesday evening between 7:30 and 9:30 (with a tea break!) and is directed by Philip Waddington, Organist of St. Elisabeth’s. Further details can be obtained by calling him on 07792 150394

Choir of Reddish Churches Together

The Choir of Reddish Churches Together first formed in November 2008 to sing the ‘Advent Procession’ service on Advent Sunday that year. It is comprises members of choirs from many denominations in the Reddish area, from Roman Catholic to United Reformed, and numbers around thirty. They come together for a fixed number of rehearsals (usually four or so), leading up to an event. Following on from their first sung service on Advent Sunday, at which they sung pieces by Palestrina, they joined with Reddish Choral Society and the Church Choir to sing Stainer’s ‘Crucifixion’ on Good Friday 2009. Further events are planned at Harvest Festival and Advent Sunday again. For further information contact Philip Waddington on 07792 150394

The Organ

St. Elisabeth’s Church, serves a large parish of 12,000 people and was consecrated in 1883. Since 2004 it has been a grade one listed building. It is fortunate in possessing one of the finest pipe organs in the country, which was built at the same time as the church by the top organ builder of the time, Hill and Son of London. It is a testimony to the quality and national importance of the instrument that the original opening recital was played by the then organist of Westminster Abbey.

What is it used for?

The organ has been in constant use since 1883, for accompanying Sunday services, for weddings, baptisms, funerals as well as concerts and other functions. There can be few families in Reddish for whom the organ at St. Elisabeth’s has not been played, at one of life’s great events over the last 120 years.

Organ Appeal

Why are we appealing for help?

Although the organ still sounds splendid, it is in need of restoration. In the 1960’s the instrument was rebuilt to a much reduced specification due to financial constraints at the time, and since then no work has been carried out except routine tuning and maintenance. It is however, a tribute to the organ consultant who dealt with the 1960’s rebuild that he instructed to organ builders to leave in situ those pipes which at that time the church could not afford to restore. Restoration of these parts of the instrument, which have not been heard in over forty years, will restore the original specification of the organ to a three manual (keyboard) instrument and once again give Reddish a world class instrument which the community can be rightly proud of.

How can you help?

Our aim is to encourage families, businesses and the local community to dedicate a pipe or pipes to a person, persons or event special to them, both past and present. It is highly likely that we can all think of people who have had a positive influence on our lives whom we wish to remember in this unique and lasting way.

How much will it cost?

The total cost of restoration will be £100,000. The cost of sponsoring a pipe is just £25. You can of course sponsor as many pipes as you wish, and perhaps use this as an opportunity not only to remember loved ones, but to commemorate a special family event, such as an anniversary or birth. Every sponsor will receive a certificate acknowledging their contribution and a permanent record will be kept on display in church of all those for whom a pipe has been dedicated. Of course, smaller donations are very welcome; please complete and return the Sponsorship Form. If you are a tax payer, please consider gift-aiding your contribution; this will cost you nothing extra but means the church can claim back the tax you have already paid on your donation. All you need to do is sign the form overleaf.

Who will benefit?

The whole community. The church maintains a choral tradition of an exceptionally high standard, with a growing choir made up of members aged from six to well over seventy, as well as a youth choir drawn from local schools. In addition, Reddish Choral Society, a registered charity and community choir of forty people covering the whole age range regularly use the church. The church school, St. Elisabeth’s CE Primary School also use the building for weekly assemblies, their annual carol service, plus other educational uses. The church would also envisage setting up an organ and choral scholarship, aimed at local secondary school aged pupils when the restoration is complete.The Organ

Organ Pipe Sponsorship Forms
can be downloaded by clicking here for PDF version or here for Word Document Version

The specification of the original organ is thus...

Pedal Organ Open Diapason 16’ Violon 16’ Violoncello 8’ Trombone 16’	Swell Organ Bourdon 16 Open Diapason 8’’ Salicional 8’ Stopped Diapason 8’ Vox Angelica 8’ Principal 4’ Fifteenth 2’
Great Organ Double Diapason 16’ Open Diapason 8’ Mixture III 17.19.22 Open Diapason No. 2 8’ Cornopean 8’ Hohl Flute 8’ Oboe 8’ Principal 4’ Vox Humana 8’ Harmonic Flute 4’ Tremulant Twelfth 2 2/3 Fifteenth 2	Choir Organ Mixture III 17.19.22 Open Diapason 8’ Posaune 8 Dulciana 8’ Clarion 4 Gedact 8’ Wald Flute 4’ Swell to Pedal Harmonic Gamba 4’ Swell to Great Clarinet 8’ Swell to Choir Swell Octave Choir to Pedal Great to Pedal Pedal Octave