THOUGH in a strict sense the next change of church season is at the end of November with Advent, this Sunday Crediton Parish Church has a distinct sense of return after the August lull.

The choir will be back after a summer break marked by its highly successful week of singing the services at Truro Cathedral to lead the monthly Choral Evensong at 6pm.

The Holy Cross Choir during their recent visit to Truro Cathedral.
The Holy Cross Choir during their recent visit to Truro Cathedral. (Jon Rawles)

The organ too is back after some major maintenance; it was really suffering in the hot weather!

The September Evensong is always a special one as it is an occasion to thank all those involved in supporting The Friends of Crediton Church who help to maintain the fabric of this historic building.

This year the guest preacher is Crediton’s own Bishop – the Right Reverend Moira Astin, who is one of the two Suffragan Bishops under Bishop Mike at Exeter.

The service also features the annual presentation of Music Foundation awards to the junior choristers – a reminder that their participation in the choir can also unlock financial help with learning instruments.

This Autumn the choir has a particularly busy schedule as, beside the regular weekly services and special ones for Remembrance, on Sunday, October 18 Crediton Parish Church will be the featured church for BBC Radio 4’s live Sunday Worship.

It will include a new piece specially composed for the occasion by local composer of sacred choral music, Graham Keitch, who is a member of the choir at Crediton as well as a lively introit by Andrew Millington who was the Director of Music at Exeter Cathedral between 1999 and 2015. With the broadcast starting at 8.10am and a choir warm-up set for 7am, Director of Music, Jon Rawles, noted some very early choir alarm clocks will be needed!

The first Sunday of the month always sees a rather different and informal service (“Celebrate”) in the morning at 9.30am.

Held in the Boniface Centre rather than the church and with music accompaniment by piano and band, it complements the formal style of both the 8am Holy Communion and the 6pm Choral Evensong.

This Sunday “Celebrate” will be rounding off its series on Old Testament figures by exploring the theme of reconciliation and forgiveness in the story of Joseph and his brothers, before moving on to a new series with distinct seasonal flavours – Harvest in October, All Saints in November and Looking forward to Christmas in December.

The Rector, Rev Preb Matthew Tregenza commented: “This Sunday is a good example of the range of worship styles offered in Crediton Parish Church but, as well as the ones highlighted here, our weekday services offer a quieter and more contemplative model.

“As a Parish Church we exist to serve all the people of Crediton; our strapline is ‘Journeying Together in Love, Faith and Service’ because, whatever the style of worship, those are the values at our core.”

Peter Bunn