Continuous choir tradition since the founding era — modern Senior Choir profile from at least 2015 Leader of record (2015): Deaconess Iris McCatty [Current Director / lead — to confirm]

The Senior Choir consists, per the 2015 Anniversary Booklet, of “18 members dedicated to praising God with our singing ministry.” The choir meets weekly and selects songs from the readings in the service plan, ensuring the music of every Sunday is shaped by the Word that will be preached. As Deaconess Iris McCatty wrote: “The Choir is on duty 1st and 3rd Sundays and also in the main events such as: Easter, Christmas, Special anniversaries, Gospel concerts and evening services.”

The choir tradition at HBC stretches back to the founding era. Choir performances under Mr W. Garlick’s leadership in the 1920s and 1930s — including the rendering of Gaul’s The Holy City on Good Friday 1927 — are remembered in the scrapbook as having influence “written deeply on church life.”

The Senior Choir also serves the wider community: it supports Water Aid and holds an annual fund-raising Gospel Concert that brings in other churches in the local area. Their stated aim, written into the 2015 booklet: “that saints will be won for God’s Kingdom through the expression of praises to God.”

Sources: [125th] p. 46; [Scrap] (Garlick, Holy City 1927); [Centenary] (1896 organ, choir development).