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choir
St Thomas Church Choir.

St Thomas is fortunate to have a small, but pleasant sounding and versatile Hill 2-manual organ, and a keen choir which, especially at festivals and at its monthly choral Evensong, addresses a wide repertoire of music mostly from the 16th to 20th Centuries. As the latest work on the Swell section of the organ is completed, we have begun re-surfacing the soprano line. We have welcomed at least 6 new singers to the choir in the past year, and enthusiasm is undemented. Recent repertoire includes Palestrina, Vittoria and Byrd, and Masses by Mozart, Schubert, Weber and Darke. One of our organists is a talented recitalist, and the choir is directed by a former Cambridge organ scholar.

A Hymn for St Thomas' Patronal Festival

A Hymn in celebration of St Thomas' example of faith was written by a former vicar of the parish for use at Patronal Festival or at other suitable times. It is offered for use by other churches free of any need to obtain permission provided it is acknowledged as below. The writer intended his hymn to be sung to the tune Gonfalon Royal although there are a great number of alternative tunes composed in this metre (L.M.)

1. O blessed Thomas hear the prayer
Of those who claim your patronage;
In all our doubts your faith we'd share,
Through all our earthly pilgrimage.

2. Your courage we would imitate,
Who knew that Christ must go to die,
For willingly you risked his fate
And saw him lifted up on high.

3. Your brethren knew he was alive,
While you were left in sorrow still;
With doubt and fear you had to strive,
Your faith to strengthen and fulfil.

4. The risen Christ you longed to see;
He granted you your love's reward,
And through that blessing you and we
May hail him as our God and Lord.

5. O blessed Thomas hear the prayer
Of those who struggle here below;
We thank you for your special care
For all who long the Lord to know.

6. To you our God all praise be given,
O Father, Son and Holy Ghost;
With saints on earth and saints in heaven
We praise you with the heavenly host.

Amen.