On the first Sunday in Lent our choir, St. Marks Singers sang an anthem - Lord for thy tender mercy's sake - by Richard Farrant. This choral music belongs to a long tradition in our country, stretching from the Elizabethan Age to the present time. It is a wonderful heritage, which has been passed on from our musicians, singers and composers.

The following evening I had the pleasure of delivering a presentation entitled "Choral music in England from Purcell to the present day" to the Wimborne & District Recorded Music Society. My reasons in choosing this subject were two-fold. Firstly, I hold the view that this heritage is under pressure, if not threatened altogether. There are indicators. For example, many of our schools do not now sing as part of their curriculum, nor do they sing in assemblies. This means that the repertoire of known hymns and songs is rapidly diminishing. Last June I attended the Diocesan Choral Festival at our Cathedral. I calculate that about 250 choristers were present from churches around the Diocese. That number would have been more like 750 in 1990, filling much of the nave. The number of both choirs and singers has obviously decreased. The second reason is that during my life I have always had a serious level of involvement in choirs and choral singing. The appetite for it, if anything, has grown. I love the music of Purcell, also of Thomas Attwood, Stainer, Parry, Walton, Elgar and Howells. From the present I like Tavener and Rutter, both born in 1945 and who, incidentally, attended the same school.

St. Marks Singers is helping to keep the choral tradition going. About 25 in number, we could do with another alto, tenor and bass. Think about this, particularly if you can read music and have the desire to sing.

It is all to the Glory of God. On Palm Sunday evening (6pm) we shall sing a new work entitled The Way of the Cross. This is a modern sequence of readings, hymns and anthems. Our choir will also be singing on Maundy Thursday evening, Good Friday's morning service and Easter Day. The next practice will be held at St. Marks on Friday, 29th February from 7 until 8.15pm