FOR its patronal festival in its 500th year the church of St Mary Magdalene celebrated with a morning communion service at which Rev Mary Williamson presided and preached.

The choir sang as an anthem, “Cantate Domino” (“Sing unto the Lord a new song”) by Pitoni and at the end choirmaster and organist Dr Sean Sweeney played a fugue in C minor by J S Bach.

In the evening the choir welcomed 5 guest singers to join them to sing a celebratory service of choral evensong directed by Dr Sweeney. The service was led by James Wonnacott and the lessons were read by Amber Newton.

Before the service guest organist Josh Hughes played, “Prelude Cantabile” by César Franck and at the end of the service he played a Fantasia in G minor by J S Bach to great acclaim.

The Responses were by Thomas Ebdon. The choir sang Psalm 46 to the well-known chant featuring a descant in two of the verses and the 2nd half of the Gloria. The canticles were sung to the setting by Stanford in Bb.

The anthem was, ”Thou knowest, Lord, the secrets of our hearts,” by Purcell from his music for the funeral for Queen Mary II in Westminster Abbey in 1695.

The first hymn was also an adaptation of a hymn by Purcell and the service finished with Ralph Vaughan Williams’ arrangement of the Old Hundredth (All people that on earth do dwell).

There will be no choral evensong on Sunday, August 4, as the choir will be taking a month’s break from singing services. Instead, Rev Williamson will be taking a ‘Songs of Praise’ at the usual time of 5.30pm.