Music

Music is an essential part of the worship at St Paul's. We use a variety of traditional and newer songs, so that everyone can feel free to worship from their hearts. Children (and older folk too!) are encouraged to enhance the worship by using percussion instruments.

The music is provided by keyboard, electric violin, guitar and drums. In some circumstances, worship tapes and CDs are used. These give a welcome variety and depth to our worship.

From time to time, other musicians in the church family join in and we have the pleasure of listening to the cello, violin, flute and clarinet.

The singing group, who have a monthly practice, seek to give a lead to the hymns and songs. Each member finds real joy in being part of the worship.

To give you a flavour of our musical taste, the church family are asked each year to vote for their 3 most favourite hymns. The top ten hymns are sung at a special Songs of Praise service each January and a representative of the church family has the opportunity to explain why a particular song means so much to them. See below for our top eleven songs for 2005. In joint first place were 'Empty, Broken Here I Stand' and 'Over All The Earth'.

• Empty, Broken Here I Stand
• Over All The Earth
• Because Of You
• Blessed Be Your Name
• I The Lord Of Sea And Sky
• Light Of The World
• My Jesus, My Saviour
• We Want To See Jesus Lifted High
• Beautiful One
• Your Voice Is
• Jerusalem

In July 2003 many of our favourite songs/hymns were sung at a Praise in the Park event in Hainault. It was a wonderful afternoon with blue skies, sunny weather and a chance to sing our favourite worship songs in the open air.

Other local churches were invited to join our Praise Picnic Party. Watch this space for similar events in in future.

St. Paul's featured on the BBC's Songs of Praise in the summer of 2000 and if you would like to see the video of our church singing 'Be Thou My Vision' please give the Vicar a call.

For more information on music at St. Paul's, please speak to our musical director, Tom Gough, any Sunday morning.