Marches Music Ministry is a collective of musicians and choirs from across Herefordshire, Shropshire and the Welsh Marches area. It has been formed because we need to close the local Royal School of Church Music group, following changes in the national organisation of the RSCM.

The purpose of this NEW GROUP is to provide assistance, encouragement, networking and support to help people with music events in churches in the Marches areas. e.g.,

  • Come & Sing events,
  • training workshops
  • ideas exchange
  • support for isolated musicians
  • help with repertoire
  • fellowship for choristers

There is no membership fee and you no longer need to be affiliated to the RSCM to be a part of this, though there are still many membership benefits to be had there.

If you’d like to join our mailing list, either as a church or individual, please use the signup form below.

If you are on the mailing list for the local RSCM group please sign up again here as that group ceases in December and we need to compile a fresh mailing list.

Join our mailing list

Music Resources

We’ve compiled a list of useful resources for choir trainers that may help you to find suitable music for specific occasions. Please let us know if you have material to add to this.

Events

Enhancing music in smaller churches – for choirs, organists and clergy, at Holy Trinity, Hereford, July 14th, 6.30- 8.30 (with refreshments). Meet members of the Marches Music Ministry Team, and Diocese of Hereford Organists’ Training Scheme (DHOTS) for practical tips on managing the following: basic conducting, flexible repertoire, making safeguarding manageable, involving children and building choirs. We’ll also launch a new collection of some of the best-loved hymns in simplified arrangements, made for less confident players. Donations welcome to support the work of DHOTS with young organists. Please register attendance with Grahame Taylor: g.t@gftaylor.co.uk

Holy Trinity Bosbury HR8 1QT have an Organ Open Weekend  – Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th September. The church is open in daylight hours, there will be an exhibition, talks, an opportunity to play the Grade 2 listed Speechly & Ingram organ, light refreshments. Sunday September 6th Organ Recital by John Challenger (Salisbury, but well known to many Herefordians!) at 1pm, Choral Evensong at 6.30pm sung by Refugium Chamber Choir, directed by Simon Harper and accompanied by John Challenger.

Come and Sing Choral Evensong –Sunday 20th September at St Michael’s Ledbury 4.00pm rehearsal for 5.30pm service. Contact Kate Cheetham (Director of Music) on cheethamkj@gmail.com

Come and Sing Advent Sunday Candlelit Service, Leominster Priory, Sunday November 29th 4.15pm rehearsal for 6pm service. Experience the thrill of singing a candlelit Advent service in Leominster Priory, which has one of the finest acoustics in the country, followed by seasonal refreshments. Music to be confirmed in September. Contact Hilary Norris: hilary.norris@leominsterpriory.org.uk to book a place, for music pdfs/to order booklets, from the Forbury Office, and for backing tracks to rehearse with.