Music at the Abbey Church
Waltham
Abbey has a rich musical heritage dating back to the foundation of the
monastery. One of England’s most famous composers, Thomas Tallis, was a young
organist here when the foundation was dissolved. More recently it was the church
where William Cummings adapted Mendelssohn’s music to fit the words of Charles
Wesley’s Hark! The herald angels sing.
Today music enriches our worship through three specific groups: the choir and the choristers. The choir is a group of about 25 adults who sing around six services a month with a repertoire stretching back even earlier than Tallis and forward to the present day. The choristers sing for two services each month and occasionally join with the adult choir; they are a mixed-sex group aged 7-14 drawn from a variety of local schools.
In addition, there are numerous concerts and recitals at the church. Music for Lunch is presented on many Saturdays through the year and is free of charge. Other concerts are given from time to time by the choir and the choristers, and the church also serves as a venue for other organisations seeking a wonderful place to make music.
Waltham Abbey Music Headlines
Our New Pipe Organ
Read all about our new pipe organ.
Waltham Abbey 950
A commemorative CD recorded by the Abbey Choir and Choristers is available for £7 from the Visitor Centre in the crypt.
