Music flourishes at the Priory
Lifting worship to new heights…
…there are four groups of musicians who support the different styles of worship and two groups of bellringers - the Tower Bellringers and the Hand Bellringers.
First, there’s the Priory Choir with the treble line sung by girl and boy Junior Choristers in morning worship, and the Priory Singers (SATB) at evening services.
Praise Group, sings modern and contemporary songs and hymns, accompanied on the piano.
The Worship Band supports singing at The Gathering.
And finally, the Priory Orchestra of musicians accompanies the congregation at All Together Worship once a month.
The Tower Bell-ringers ring before the Sunday 10.30am services and the Hand Bell Team play at open days and perform at concerts
Subscribe to the Priory’s YouTube channel GMP Music and share the joy of Priory music.
The Great Malvern Priory Choirs
A strong choral tradition runs through our pattern of worship
The Priory Choir sings at three morning services and the Priory Singers at three evening services a month.
Not only do our choristers of all ages learn glorious music, of all ages, from Early to world premieres composed for the Choir, but they have fun!
It’s great being part of a team dedicated to raising worship to new heights. The Annual Choir Camp for Junior Choristers, concerts, recordings and broadcasts add to the wide range of experiences.
If you’d like to join the choir, contact Piers Maxim, our Director of Music.
Here’s the music for the coming month…
Praise Group
Voices raised in contemporary Christian song
The Priory Praise Group leads the singing in some of the Priory’s more informal services, enjoying a mixture of modern and contemporary hymns and songs, often of a contemplative nature.
Current favourites include music by Stuart Townend, Keith and Kristyn Getty, and reflective sung prayers by Margaret Rizza.
Led by a pianist, singers are sometimes joined by other instrumentalists.
Praise Group is a supportive group which appreciates sharing prayer together before singing. Get in touch, we’d love to hear from you.
Priory
Orchestra
Offers instrumentalists the chance to lead worship
If you can play an instrument, then you’re very welcome to join the Priory Orchestra.
A lighthearted, all-age group, directed by Piers Maxim, our Director of Music, the Priory Orchestra usually leads the monthly Altogether Worship.
If you’d like to find out more, contact the Orchestra.
Worship Band
Do you play guitar?
…or drums, or any other contemporary instrument? Or maybe singing Worship Band style is more your thing?
We’d love to hear from you!
The Worship Band is a small dedicated group of musicians who lead worship once a month at The Gathering at 6.30 in the evening. Relaxed, cafe-style with refreshments and lively discussion, what’s not to like?
The Organ
A fine, four-manual instrument…
…the Priory organ was rebuilt in 2004 by Nicholson of Malvern and is well-suited to choral accompaniment and leading worship.
Fascinating images and information about the organ rebuild and Priory organists and recitalists can be found here.
The specification and history of the organ is recorded in the National Pipe Organ Register.
The organ is used regularly for services and for the Malvern Priory Organ Recital Series.
Organ Scholarships
The Priory organ is used to train the church musicians of the future…
…through Great Malvern Priory’s Organ Scholarships.
If you know a young organist or pianist interested in becoming an organist, we’d love to hear from you. Contact Piers Maxim our Director of Music, for further information.
Priory
Hand Bells
Christmas Eve…and melodic chimes echo into the vast space of the Priory…
…and have done since the original set of 12 handbells came to the Priory over 150 years ago.
They were first used for practising change-ringing - the type of ringing that is usually heard from tower bells - but now they are used to play melodies. The sound is enchanting!
Recent fundraising has extended the set to 24 and the original set has been refurbished and re-tuned.
The Hand Bell Team meets regularly to learn secular and sacred music. They perform at services, concerts and at Priory Open Days.
If you’d like to find out more contact us.
Bellringers
There’re ancient and beautiful bells at the Priory…
…which were augmented and rehung in 2015, to give the Priory a royal ring of 10 bells. More info about the bells can be found here.
Bells add an extra special joyful dimension to services, weddings and other special occasions. If you’re interested in making a booking, please contact the Joint Tower Captain, Paul Lewis, for details.
Bellringing is an unusual hobby - it takes several months to learn to handle a church bell. They’re very heavy, but it's like pushing a swing. If you push at the right time, it doesn't take much effort.
Ringing always starts with "rounds", where the bells follow each other in size order, and the lightest, highest note starts first. The heaviest, lowest note is at the end of each round. This deep note is also the same bell which chimes the hour on the clock.
Bellringers learn different methods, with names such as Bob Doubles and Stedman. Each bell has a number, the lightest being number 1. The bells change speed, to swap positions, so that they ring in a different order each time. There are loads of different methods. Some are named after places like Oxford, London, Cambridge, where they were first rung.
Ringing is for all ages and we welcome beginners who are able to handle a bell. If there are 2 or 3 people wanting to learn, special practices are held for them, and the new dumb bell can be used for teaching. Once the the handling is mastered, new members join the bellringers for the main practice on Thursdays. When they can ring without too many crunches, they’re ready to ring for services!
We’re a friendly bunch of bellringers at the Priory, and after ringing practice can normally be found in the pub across the road.
Practice is on Thursday evenings 7.30-9pm and the bells are rung for Sunday services 9.45am-10.30am.
‘Ring out, wild bells’
Priory Bellringers gather on New Year’s Eve to ring out the old year and ring in the new.