ST MICHAEL AND ALL ANGELS CHURCH CHOIR
The origins of a choir in our beautiful church are lost in the mists of time. However, the fact that we have in our community a chorister who has sung continuously with the choir since 1944 is a huge asset. Jack Jarvis is a living archive!
When Jack Jarvis joined the choir, there were 14 boys and 8 men and the boys earned a penny each Sunday. It wasn’t until the 1950s that the choir became mixed. When Jack joined, his father, Tom, sang as a bass and his brother, Tony, was a treble. Mr Wren served as both organist and choir master. He was the first non-vicar to take on the role. Subsequent choir masters were: William Dewe, Mr Bartlet, Tom Jarvis, Ben Parsons and Nigel Payne. In 1975 Terry Pearce became choir master and has remained in that role ever since.
Jack’s early memories of the choir include day trips to Southsea and hiding behind the vicarage wall to jump out at the vicar (who was always surprised!). He also recalls an initiation rite whereby new boys were ‘trapped’ between the gate and the west door and left for a short while. The boys used to pick gooseberries on their way through the allotments to eat during the sermon. Mrs Fletcher used to launder the choristers’ white ruffles three times a year but the surplices had to be washed at home. Jack’s mother had three lots to do!
Two photos from joint event with Drayton, on Steventon Green, to celebrate The Festival of Britain in 1951.
Terry Pearce developed the choir’s skills and repertoire and also introduced the now familiar blue cassocks. The choir joined the Royal School of Church Music and regularly performed and competed in prestigious venues such Addington Palace, St George’s Chapel, Windsor, Magdalen College and Dorchester Abbey. Four young choristers achieved ‘Bishops Chorister Awards’; Zoe Howard, Julia and Andrea Leahy and Tim Sandford.
Below is a photo of the choir from the mid-70s.
