Sherborne Abbey Choir

Words Jo Denbury Photography Katharine Davies

Ihave a confession to make. Sometimes, when no one is home, I listen to Gregorian monks chanting. It’s not what they are chanting about that matters, it is simply the sound of the voice as a musical instrument that I enjoy. It soothes and calms. I am not sure where it comes from, but my suspicion is that it’s a throwback to my childhood memory of hearing my father singing in the kitchen in the early morning. He was of Welsh extraction and a pretty good tenor and it’s that purring sound that I still find a reassuring start to the day. Of course, the monks only come out when I am alone for fear of other members of the family storming in with, ‘What is that noise?’ and immediately telling Alexa to play something else. The fact is that singing is in our bones; music affects us all in some way or other. >

Sherborne is a town blessed with a musical hub at its very heart: the Abbey, home to the long-standing and nationally-recognised Sherborne Abbey Choir. This flourishing group draws choristers from across the town’s schools, state and private alike. I meet with Jamie Henderson, Musical Director of Sherborne School and the Abbey choir, fresh from auditions at Sherborne Abbey Primary. ‘I had 50 children lining up to take part,’ says Jamie of the process, ‘it was wonderful to see because during lockdown we haven’t been able to visit schools.’

Jamie took the helm as Director of Music at Sherborne School in 2005 – a role that saw him returning to his alma mater. ‘After a music scholarship to Sherborne School I was fortunate to receive an organ scholarship to Exeter College, Oxford, where the tradition is for the scholar to be the Director of Music. In the ‘80s a choir of trebles from Christ Church Cathedral School and undergraduate ‘back rows’ sang three or four times a week. I led that for three years plus many other musical events.’ The experience led Jamie to direct the Cathedral Singers of Christ Church, Oxford; Portsmouth Baroque Choir and Yeovil Chamber Choir. He also served as Chorusmaster of Dorset Opera for several years and held teaching positions at Oxford School, Stowe and Portsmouth Grammar before returning to Sherborne.

As a child, Jamie started playing the piano aged five, the clarinet at eight and the organ as, he admits, a ‘quite late’ 16-year-old. A musical prodigy you might say, but no – Jamie is quite open to the fact that any child who is, ‘singing while they’re swinging,’ [on their swing] is likely to be musical and a choir is but one platform for that talent to blossom. ‘A child that is singing voluntarily should be given the opportunity to meet with me and pursue it. The joy that comes from being in the choir is second to none,’ Jamie enthuses, ‘and singing opens doors to musical instruments.’

‘It takes a long time to learn music,’ explains Jamie, ‘but by participating in a choir you are swept along; it is like being part of a team and children become obsessed with participation.’ Harriet Chappell, mother of head chorister Oliver, agrees, ‘Oliver has been in the Abbey Choir for seven years – half his life – and he loves it. In particular, the friendship between the boys and it’s really nice for them to have friends outside of school.’ >

She adds, ‘He enjoys the leadership and the responsibility gained as he’s become more senior. Of course he loves the singing and the huge range of music he gets to perform with the choir.’ The role of the choir should not be underestimated in these formative years notes Jamie, ‘It gives a child a unique start in life. There is a real sense of belonging and teamsmanship, everybody plays their part and if one chorister is missing then the sound suffers because there are no subs in this team.’

The role of the choir is to lead and elevate liturgical song, bolstering the congregation in their musical expression of worship. In other churches the texts are spoken, but here at the Abbey, cathedrals elsewhere, Oxbridge and some parish churches, the text is set to music. ‘The variety of music is huge,’ Jamie enthuses. ‘Fundamentally, the choir is made up of four parts: the trebles, the altos (ladies), the tenors and basses – the ‘back-row’ stemming from all walks of life and often driving long distances to be part of the choir.’

Singing is said to release endorphins associated with feelings of pleasure and many of us can attest to an uplift in mood when singing along to the radio. Imagine then the joy of singing your heart out (in perfect tune, might I add) with a group of friends striving as one to reach a dizzying emotional peak. Jamie concurs, ‘Most people who get involved in choral singing are bitten by the bug. They ask themselves – is that my sort of thing? – but the fact is that being in the choir becomes their moment of time whether they are of a faith or not.’

Do humans have a fundamental need to sing? ‘Absolutely,’ says Jamie. ‘It was very interesting that during Covid the choir kept going on Zoom and particularly the adult members did report serious well-being issues from the lack of meeting up in person to sing, to the point of feeling down. In fact, when we weren’t allowed to sing due to Covid regulations, members of the congregation told me that they would come to the service and then go home and listen to the hymns on YouTube because they had missed it so much.’ It is clearly a sound that resonates on a very deep personal level.’ Choral music converts people who

thought they only liked rock music,’ explains Jamie. ‘They hear this heavenly sound and they start asking about it, getting to know about it and they become absorbed. We are lucky in Sherborne to have such huge quality of music-making right in the centre of town and which everyone can come and enjoy.’

The Abbey Choir uphold the important tradition of inclusivity and children are actively welcomed from all of the town’s schools. The choristers are paid ‘pocket money’, starting at the junior level – the blue ribbons – and it increases with each level passed. ‘Of course, they have a huge sense of pride,’ says Jamie. ‘A boy whose voice doesn’t break until he is 15 is delighted!’ Some of their earnings come from the concerts performed over Christmas, Easter and during the summer. ‘The congregation values the importance of music within the liturgy and enjoys the choral s sound,’ says Jamie. The town also hosts the Sherborne Abbey Music Festival that raises money towards musical education for children who would otherwise not have the means. Since the recent arrival of the new Rector, Reverend Martin Lee – himself a musician – there are plans afoot for Jamie to form a girls’ choir, adding an exciting new dynamic to the Abbey’s sound.

Sitting, listening to the choir in the Abbey is, whatever your faith might be, an uplifting experience. ‘It’s an amazing privilege to sing in the Abbey because it’s one of the most splendid buildings in England. The stone, shape and height of it make for wonderful acoustics,’ explains Jamie, ‘it’s just a joy to sing in.’

If curious, I would suggest attending Choral Evensong on a Sunday evening. There is no sermon and no expectation, just an opportunity to sit and listen. If compelled to join in you can do so, from the safety of the pews, on your own terms and safe in the knowledge that the choir are there to guide you.

___________________________________________ Sunday 5th December 6pm Choral Evensong Sherborne Abbey. For details of all services visit sherborneabbey.com/services/