Music
Music is very important to us at St Mary Magdalene’s. We seek to promote music at every level, entertaining fine choirs, hosting orchestral and choral concerts, and training musicians of all ages to grow in ability, confidence, and faith.
We have an anthem sung by the choir most weeks.
There is a monthly music recital provided by local musicians and schools. There is the option to come and join us for Coffee and Cake in the Vestry at 11:30am with the concert following on at 12:30pm.
Regular Come and Sing events are a wonderful highlight to the year’s music timetable. Local musicians and extra singers boost our choir members to present an evening that is a ‘must not miss’ event. Past events include The Saviour by W L Webber and Handel's Messiah.
And many special music events run by members of the community like Southgate Symphony Orchestra, Southgate Opera, Enfield Choral Society and Southgate Youth Opera.
Sir John Stainer’s Oratorio “St Mary Magdalen”
Pictured above: Afternoon rehearsal.
The audio clip below is from the last half of the last movement (quartet and chorus) performed by combined choirs in July 2022. The performance is available as a double CD which includes the 36 page programme containing various bio's, notes, and the full text of the Oratorio. The performance is also available as a digital download.
Available to purchase here
A recent concert performed by Jonathan Newby
Our Hymn by the late Paul Wigmore
Chancel Celebration Hymn by the late Paul Wigmore
On Sunday 21st October 2012 we sang the hymn written specially for the restoration of our chancel, for the first time. It has been written specially for us by the late Paul Wigmore – one of this country’s leading hymn-writers.
The Rev’d Gordon Giles writes,
"Paul Wigmore has so kindly written ‘our hymn’ – indeed struggled to some extent with it, given the rather unusual nature of what we are celebrating. As he himself said, ‘how do you write a hymn about paintings’.
Well, he did it, and it is ‘our hymn’, which is rather special. And now we’ve sung it for the first time.
It’s wonderful what a human spirit can create, inspired by the glory of God and in his service and praise.
A hymn in celebration of the 2012 restoration of the century-old Chancel frescos in the church of Saint Mary Magdalene, Enfield.
We come to this place to remember and meditate,
Speaking to God as we sing and we pray,
And lifting our eyes, we can see there a parable
Beauty renewed in a shining array.
The paintings remind us of God and His way with us,
Prophets and priests on the earth that we share;
And there go disciples, apostles and cherubim,
Silently hearing our praise and our prayer.
They help us imagine the Lord and his suffering,
Mary the Magdalene down by his tomb;
We picture the risen Lord seated among them all
Breaking the bread in a quiet upper room.
Today we remember the work of those long ago.
Giving these treasures for us as we praise;
Dear Lord we give thanks for their love and their thoughtfulness,
Fruit of their faith in the Ancient of Days.
These pictures, once veiled in the wear of a century
Cleansed and renewed with their beauty revealed!
And thus do our souls become veiled by our waywardness,
Till, through God’s power to renew, we are healed.
All glory to God for his goodness and love for us,
Glory to Christ, our Redeemer and friend,
To God’s Holy Spirit be glory for evermore,
In every one of us, world without end.
Tune TRAD: WAS LEBET
O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.
