Music

At High Cross we have a variety of choirs, bands and music groups.

Choir

Music at High Cross services is varied and supported by both a Choir and Singing Group.

The Choir endeavours to  maintain  the tradition of 4-part harmony singing of the more traditional hymns and anthems, but with limited resources.  Additional singers are co-opted for special  occasions. New choir members are always welcome.

On special festival occasions the Singing Group combines with the Choir for joint productions.  From time to time the Choir and/or Singing Group will lead a complete service, often with the benefit of additional invited singers and accompanists.

There is a well-stocked music cupboard and we are open to music and liturgies drawn from a wide background. Music is seen as an activity with few barriers and as a way of drawing people into the Church – as well as for the enrichment of the worship of the church.

Singing Group

The High Cross contemporary singing group compliments the work of the choir by providing a different style of worship through music, featuring an expansive repertoire of more contemporary hymns by artists such as Matt Redmond and Graham Kendrick. The band members utilize instruments typical for this style including guitar, piano, bass guitar and drums.

The music they perform features a diverse range of styles including energetic pop-rock numbers, folk and country arrangements, jazz and blues-based hymns and slower, more reflective ballads. Popular with Christians of all ages, the mix of both contemporary hymns led by the singing group and more traditional hymns led by the choir ensures there is a hymn for every occasion at High Cross Church.

New members, instrumentalists and singers are very welcome. Practices take place on Wednesday evenings.

The band is currently led by Flynn Everard, a multi-instrumentalist and graduate from The Academy Of Contemporary Music in Guildford. Flyn is looking to further diversify the existing repertoire of the band and to encourage collaboration between the contemporary singing group and the choir.

Organists

There are two electronic organs – a three-manual Allen organ in the sanctuary upstairs and a Wyvern two-manual instrument in the chapel on the ground floor. We currently have two regular organists who share the rota, but we have contact with a number of external musicians whom we draw upon to fill in gaps and to provide extra accompaniment as required.

 

The three manual Allen Digital Organ was installed when the Church was built in 1990.  The speakers are built into the roof, with the Swell in the Lantern, the Great and Pedals over the entrance doors and the Choir above the dais.  This makes for “all-around” sound when the manuals are coupled, although you may hear the sound emanating from these different locations at other times.

Organ Recitals are arranged on the Sanctuary organ at lunch times on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays during June, July and August. A number of first class recitalists, together with our resident organists, give of their time freely. A retiring collection is made in support of our nominated Church Charities and the High Cross Organ Student fund.

Details of future recitals are usually available at Easter.

Our Organists

  • John

    Organist and Choir Leader

    John is essentially a self-taught organist and who has been playing on and off since the age of 14, having previously attained Grade 8 piano. He particularly enjoys accompanying church services and trying to get the congregation and choir, if there is one, to sing as enthusiastically as possible. He first played in the nineteen fifties at churches in his home town of Carluke in Lanarkshire (Scotland). Prior to the building of High Cross in 1990, he accompanied services at the United Reformed Church in Southwell Park Road from the late nineteen seventies. For many years he led the High Cross Church Choir and, along with David Markby, Martin Riddy and John Morton, currently accompany services at High Cross Church. He plays occasionally for services at other churches in Camberley, Windlesham, Fleet, Lightwater and Sandhurst and for weddings and funeral services in the area, and, when possible, he enjoys singing with the St Michael’s (Sandhurst) church choir and the Surrey Heath Singers (SHS).

    In 1971, he married Andrea (née Hynam) and they have 3 grown-up sons and 6 delightful grandchildren, with Anna the only granddaughter. They have lived at our present address since 1978 and keeping the garden in order is one of his other hobbies.

  • David Markby

    Organist

    David is one of the regular organists at High Cross, Camberley. He has been playing the organ here since the church opened in 1990 and prior to that at Camberley URC since the late sixties.

    David started to learn the piano at age 5 and encouraged by his father, also a church organist, won a scholarship to Trinity College London. Here, at age 12, he received his early organ tuition on Saturday mornings for 3 years. This was followed by tuition at his local Parish Church where he passed his Grade VIII exams.