40 choristers from seven different churches gathered at St Mary’s Church in Kingswinford as Adam Hadley was licensed as Rector of the benefice.
Adam organised a special service of Choral Evensong according to the Book of Common Prayer to mark the occasion, as a way of bringing choristers together to sing pieces that aren’t possible with a smaller choir in each parish.
The benefice of Kingswinford includes both St Mary’s Church in Kingswinford and the Church of the Ascension in Wall Heath. It is one of our renewal parishes and receives funding from the national church to be able to grow to a congregation of at least 150 people as well as support other churches locally.
Archdeacon Nikki licensed Adam as Rector on behalf of Bishop Hugh and also preached at the service. She said:
“Today is a wonderful celebration of singing and the Catholic tradition within the Church of England. Adam is moving from Priest-in-Charge to be Rector of the same benefice, which has seen growth in both numbers and spiritual depth of discipleship during his pioneering leadership. It is wonderful to see these two churches doing Kingdom work and fulling their great commission to be witnesses in their area and wider. I rejoice that we can celebrate Adam’s calling in this place where he is loved for who he is, and I want to encourage his congregations to continue to cherish him as Rector, praying for him as well as the community you seek to bless.”
Prior to the service, the bell ringers rang a quarter peel attempt of Plan Bob Triples, conducted by James Stanton, ringing master for the Worcestershire and Districts Change Ringing Association. During the service the multi-church choir was led by Director of Music, Emily Vivash and the organist was Piers Maxim. Adam was installed into his seat as Rector by Lyn Rowson, Sub Dean of Greater Dudley Deanery.
Adam said:
“I thoroughly enjoyed this evening’s service and would like to thank all those who made it so special. It was a fantastic celebration of the choral tradition within the Church of England, and it was great to hear so many people from different churches singing music that they wouldn’t get a chance to sing on a normal Sunday. It was inspiring!”
The choir sang:
- Locus Iste as the Introit, an 1869 sacred motet by Anton Bruckner celebrating the sanctity of a church.
- Versicles and Responses by Bernard Rose
- Evening Canticles in D by Herbert Brewer (The Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis)
- I was Glad – a British choral anthem composed by Sir Hubert Parry in 1902 and set to Psalm 122
At the end of the service Piers played ‘War March of the Priests’ – an orchestral piece by Felix Mendelssohn, written as incidental music for Jean Racine’s 1691 biblical drama Athalie (Op. 74) and premiered in 1845.
