Music in the Parish

Little Venice has always had a slightly bohemian feel to it, attracting artists, writers and musicians. As such, music has always been an integral part of parish life. Not only does music enhance the Sunday services at St Mary’s and St Saviour’s, but both churches have also played host to recitals and concert series, including ‘Chamber Music in Little Venice’ and the ‘Little Venice Music Festival’.

St Mary’s
The service music at St Mary’s is primarily congregational and is supplemented by a small voluntary choir. On particular occasions, such as Holy Week and the services of All Souls and Midnight Mass, the musical offering is augmented by additional singers, allowing the liturgy to be enriched with choral mass settings and motets. St Mary’s is home to a two-manual, mechanical-action pipe organ, built in 1978 by Peter Collins and with a case by Quinlan Terry. Photos and specification available here.

St Saviour’s
The service music at St Saviour’s is led by two professional cantors, and the liturgy is enriched by sung introits, responsorial psalms and a diverse repertory of communion motets carefully chosen to link with the liturgical calendar. The organ at St Saviour’s is a three-manual digital instrument by Viscount.

Both churches are also used as rehearsal space – St Mary’s is seen here being used by ‘Chamber Music in Little Venice’ (rehearsing ‘I Bethlehem) and by the Marian Consort Singers (rehearsing ‘In Sorrow’s Footsteps’).

We are extremely delighted to have Jonathan Cunliffe as our Director of Music and Organist here in Little Venice. Jonathan has been Director of Music in the Parish since 2008 serving the churches of St Mary-on-Paddington Green and St Saviour, Warwick Avenue.

Under his guidance St Mary’s now enjoys a wonderful choir of mixed voices at Solemn High Mass each Sunday and at other special services.

At St Saviour’s church we are most fortunate to have professional singers to enhance the Sunday services each week. The superb vocal talents of Paul Norcross-King and Lindsay Richardson enrich our services completely.

Jonathan, Lindsay and Paul have also been privileged to enhance the weddings and funerals of parishioners both in and around the parish with suitable music, examples of which can be heard here:

We were truly blessed during the Covid 19 lockdown when our churches were closed for public worship, that Jonathan along with Paul and Lindsay produced motets and hymns remotely to enhance the live streaming of our services during this period.