Organist and Master of Music
David Oldfield, our Organist and Master of Music, would be more than happy to help, should you require information about any of our musical groups or events.
He can be contacted on:
01932 874664
or
07791 480249
Our 2010 Autumn Music Programme
Following the success of the 2010 Woodham Parish Lent & Summer Concerts, All Saints' Church Master of Music David Oldfield is delighted to announce the following series of autumn concerts featuring local, regional and national musicians. They will entertain you on the following Saturday and Sunday evenings in September, October and November. All concerts - except the opening Bach afternoon performances - begin at 7.30 pm and finish by 10 pm - usually a little earlier.
Please note the dates below in your diary now - and then come back here for further information nearer the performance date.
Once again, entry to all these concerts is free. Disabled access is via the door closest to the three disabled car parking spaces in our large, free off-road car park. Click here for a map.
There will be complimentary refreshments of wine & tea/coffee or soft drinks during the evening and each concert will conclude with a retiring collection.
Detailed programmes of the pieces to be played and information about the performers will be available on arrival, priced £1.
One benefit of each concert is to enable regular patrons to bring a friend or three to see why so many people from outside the Parish (as well as local regulars) find Woodham so attractive socially and spiritually.
Autumn Evening Concerts
Sundays 12th AND 26th September
A lighter programme of Tea Time Bach, including afternoon tea. Starts at 4pm. (Two opportunities - or come to both)
Saturday 2nd October at 7.30pm
Welcome return of pianist Dr. Emilie Crapoulet (“Under Emilie's fingers, the notes dance, cascade, and bewitch the audience. A moment of pure magic...”) La Provence - French newspaper
Saturday 16th October at 7.30pm
Song recital by the acclaimed Anna Loveday (back by popular request)
Saturday 30th October at 7.30pm
Organ recital by David Oldfield
(Master of Music at All Saints' Woodham)
Saturday 13th November at &.30pm
Organ Recital by Dr. Anthony Gritten (Middlesex University & Assistant Organist at Holy Trinity Church, Guildford)
All October & November concerts begin at 7.30pm. Free admission with retiring collection
Tickets and further information from All Saints' Woodham Parish office GU21 5SH: -
01483 727835 or www.woodhamparish.com or e-mail at woodhamparish@aol.com
The Choir at All Saints
Thursday: 2015- 2130, plus additional one- off rehearsals.
At All Saints Church
Cost: Free
The Choir at All Saints has been an adult group for many years and has built up an enviable reputation for its ability to sing a wide repertoire of church music to a very high standard. For nearly thirty years, Ian Wickens has led this group. Whilst the emphasis is on leading good congregational music for the liturgy, the Choir makes its distinctive contribution through a wide range of anthems from the English Cathedral and other traditions, and on special occasions singing choral masses by Charpentier, Haydn, Mozart, Schubert and Anerio.
Each week, the sung mass includes psalmody – which could be Anglican chant, Plainsong or Responsorial – hymnody from C11 to C21 and anthems from a wide spread of history.
The Choir rehearses on Thursday from 2015 - 2130. There is also a short warm up rehearsal on Sunday morning at 0930 before 0945 Parish Eucharist which is the main regular commitment. Additionally, the Choir sings at the main service for all the major festivals and holy days during the Church year.
The Choir, and Ian, would be very pleased to hear from anyone who thinks that they would like to come and join in the music making.
The Choristers
Thursday: 1900- 2015
At All Saints Church
Cost: Free
The Choristers is a new venture, roughly a year old. Young people are our future – and have not figured much in the Choir in recent time. The Choristers is a training choir – leading to The Choir – for 7 - 16 year olds. As they learn and gain experience, Choristers take more of a part in the work of the Choir as a whole but they also train, rehearse – and sometimes perform – on their own. The Organist and Master of Music, David Oldfield – an experienced professional musician and music teacher – has the care of this group, aided by the vicar and occasionally by other musicians from the Choir.
Everyone involved in the care and training of The Choristers has been cleared using the CRB.
There are currently vacancies in The Choristers and David Oldfield would be very pleased to welcome any young person who is interested in singing with us.
For more information please contact David Oldfield on
01932 874664
or email him at
Instruments at All Saints
We are blest at All Saints with a splendid collection of keyboard instruments.
The Organ: is by Harrison and Harrison of Durham. (Arguably the greatest current English organ-builder, their other work includes King’s Cambridge, St George’s Windsor and Westminster Abbey.)
There was a small Walker organ when the church was built in about 1904. In 1928, a brand new organ was built by Harrison’s using some of this pipe-work but extending the instrument to three manuals and pedals. Work was done more recently in 1991 to restore the instrument after over sixty years of untroubled service. For specification of the Organ click here.
The decade up to the outbreak of World War II was a golden period - even by Harrison’s own standards - and even though the instrument is only a “baby” for a three manual instrument, it is highly regarded and admired by all who play it - amateur and professional alike.
A recent generous gift has enabled us to purchase a brand new Samick Grand Piano.
Additionally, we have on permanent loan a single manual Harpsichord by John Storrs. This allows for playing at both A=440 (Concert pitch) or A=415 for historical performance.
There has, in the recent past, been a tradition of outside groups using All Saints’ for their own concerts and that includes 
nationally known groups such Oxford Camerata and Cardinall’s Musick. We are pleased to be able to offer the use of instruments which please and enhance any such performance.
If you are interested in using All Saints' as a performance or rehearsal space, please contact the Parish Office.