[Bemerton Parish]

Art & Music in
St. John's Church, Bemerton

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ART
[Reredos] The fine Reredos and Mural of mosaic and gesto was designed and made by Miss Nellie Warre, daughter of the then Rector. This is probably the same daughter who investigated the burial place of George Herbert.
[Mural]
The frieze (above right) is NOT symbolic of the garden of Eden, as is often thought, but rather of the Rectory Garden with its river and Medlar trees.

MUSIC
St. John's Church Choir is an impressive 4-part Parish Church choir with about 15 members.
The choir are on duty at St. John's Church for the morning service every week, singing three different settings of the Eucharist (CW), full choral Matins (BCP), and at the monthly Informal Service. They also sing for many weddings, for special occasions at St. Michael's and for the occasional choral Evensong (BCP) at St. John's. On this occasion they will usually sing a setting of 'Magnificat' and 'Nunc Dimittis'. They have a wide repertoire of Anthems of different periods.
The choir is available to sing a Sunday evening service at any nearby parish which doesn't have its own choir. Several local parishes have made use of this offer for special occasions, like their Patronal Festival, Harvest and Christmas (providing they doesn't clash with our own).
In 1993 In 1997
for the 400th Anniversary of the birth of George Herbert, the choir sang the original Merbecke setting for the 1549 Communion Service, in St. Andrew's Church, Bemerton. as part of the 40th Anniversary celebrations for St. Michael's Church, they went to Zweifal, in Germany, for their Parish Festival, to sing a Concert, and at the Parish Mass in the (catholic) Parish Church, on the Sunday.
In 2000 This year
they took part in the "BBC Music Festival Live!" at the end of May, and staged a Millenium Music Event on 15th July. This was a half day of rehearsals with Evensong sung in St. Michael's to settings written for the occasion. they are singing at a special George Herbert event on July 21st, and at the Friends of Bemerton Festival on September 1st. In addition, they will be singing in Heytesbury, at Langton Long (twice), and at Sixpenny Handley.
Choir practice is every Friday evening, at 7.00pm in St. John's Church
For further information
you should contact
the Organist and Music Director:-
Mr Harry Brockway;
11 Juniper Close;
Salisbury;
Wilts.
SP1 3RA
last updated 12th April 2003