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Oxford Psalmody
(previously Oxford Occasionals
2000-2012)
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Leaders:
Edwin Macadam and Sheila Girling Macadam |
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2018
The 19th
Church Visitation
will take place on
Saturday 1st September 2018
in the area to the north of
Burford, Oxfordshire
commencing at
10.00 am at
Burford, Oxon.
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Instruments, accompanied by their
players,
are most welcome!! |
N.B. The same
warning as last year as to the state of the roads
applies even more than ever this year,
even after a little work carried out by
Oxford County Council.
Itinerary
(draft only at the moment)
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The Warwick Hall in
Burford
is a "vibrant and bold community facility" that
supports the expanding ministry of St John the
Baptist, Burford, hosts a café as well as
providing multi-purpose venue hire.
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Warwick Hall Café
is based within the churchyard of St John's
Church, and opens its doors at 9.30 am. We have
been recommended to make a visit there.
https://www.warwickhallburford.org/
There are also conveniences in the church for
use by churchgoers. |
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10.00 – 10.50
Burford, Oxfordshire.
The Church of
St John the Baptist.
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Landranger
Map 163 : Grid Ref SP 253124
Church Green, Burford.
Nearest
Post Code :
OX18 4RY
Map:
Click here
Church history on their website at:
https://www.burfordchurch.org/history/
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Carparking is free in the carpark behind the
church (ie, east end), just over the infant
River Windrush, a short walk away down
Chapel Street. There seems to be an
unofficial one-way system to drive there,
entrance being at the lower end of the High
Street, and when leaving the car [ark,
turning left to get to
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This Cotswold 'wool' church is large, and it
is well worth while the effort of getting to
the church early in order to look round it.
You need an hour at least - as well as
singing!
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In his book
“England’s Thousand Best Churches” Simon
Jenkins describes Burford Church as “queen
of Oxfordshire” and the only Church in the
County to be awarded five stars
by him. It is built of Cotswold stone, with
a spectacular exterior and inside a “maze of
low arches, surprising vistas, chapels and
shrines”.
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Pre-Reformation stained glass in the church
can be found in the west window of the nave,
the east window of the chancel, and most
notably the Chapel of the Holy Spirit.
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There is a wc,
and the church has a cafe, where you would
be very welcome to purchase refreshments,
including a late breakfast!
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More pictures of Burford on the lower half
of this page:
http://www.u3a.co/local-history-ii-visit-bampton-burford/
The others are almost equally impressive,
but are of Bampton - which we must visit
sometime!
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11.20 – 12.10
Swinbrook, Oxfordshire.
The Church of
St Mary.
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Landranger
Map 164 : Grid Ref SP 2280122
St Mary's Church, Swinbrook,
Oxfordshire.
Post Code : OX18
4DY
Map:
Click here
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Swinbrook church dates back to the 12th
Century although the tower wasn't added
until 1822.
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The church is spacious and light with the
clear glass windows illuminating both the
architecture and some remarkable monuments
to the Fettiplace family.
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See the church (and the Fettiplaces)
in
360 degrees view .
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Pictures courtesy of Wikimedia and
oxfordshirecotswolds.org, with grateful
thanks. Links go back to their pages.
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12.30 - 1.50
Lunch: Back at Warwick Hall,
Burford
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2.00
– 2.50
Bledington, Gloucestershire.
The Church of
St Leonard.
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Landranger
Map 163 : Grid Ref SP 244226
Post Code : OX7 6XD
Map:
Click here
Much
church history
here:
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The most striking aspect of
the interior of St Leonards is the absence
of a north aisle, which means that the
Perpendicular Gothic windows of the north
wall create a very light and open feel not
usually seen in a Cotswold church.
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Ten different late mediæval corbel heads.
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Wall paintings, one large, several small.
(See to left of chancel arch).
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Said to have had a west gallery, but now
used by the bellringers.
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3.15
– 4.00
TEA
Tea
will be provided by Mrs Kaye Shortland and the
local WI at Shipton under Wychwood. This will be
at either the Village Hall at Shipton or, more
probably, the Village Hall at Milton under
Wychwood, depending upon which hall is being
used by the Wedding party following the marriage
service being held in Shipton Church at 2.00 pm.
Further details to follow.
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4.20 – 5.00
Shipton under Wychwood,
Oxfordshire.
The
Church of
St Mary the Virgin.
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Landranger
Map 163 : Grid Ref SP 280180
Church Street, Shipton under
Wychwood, Chipping Norton,
Post Code :
OX7 6BP
Map:
Click
here
Church web site
here:
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The parish church of Shipton almost
certainly started life as an Anglo-Saxon
minster.
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The church was restored in
1857 when, overseen by GE Street, the pulpit
was moved, the chancel screen removed, the
floor raised and tiled and new pews
installed ...
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... probably when the organ was
introduced.
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photo of the serpent played in the
church, now in the Museum in Oxford
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NOTES
Action NOW, please.
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Please bring your copies of The Sacred Harp
and Praise & Glory,
if you have
them. |
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There
is a west gallery music booklet this year.
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Singing will be from all three sources.
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Small
numbers of an Extract from the SH will be available on
the
day, and there will be limited numbers
of P&G available.
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We
will probably sing one or two old
favourites -
Gibraltar, Birmingham, Shropshire, etc,
so if you need
and have the music, please bring copies.
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TEA is to
be provided by the Shipton WI.
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LUNCH at the Merry Mouth Inn
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Please confirm
to us what you would like to eat,
and
who wants to eat it,
and
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SEND us a cheque
(made payable to
S & E Macadam)
for the cost beforehand,
and
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Please
add
to
this cheque the sum of £5 to
cover the cost of the music booklet,
tea, and
other costs.
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Remember that you may bring
alcoholic drinks for
lunch, but please take away the
empties with you!
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Lunch orders (and who ordered what!)
+ cheques
should arrive no later than
a.m.
on
Monday
29 August,
and preferably well before, please!
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Please do not give us cash or cheques on
the day!!!
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Please will
you also be prepared to make a
donation
to each of the four churches
that we visit.
Thank you!
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Last year's
(2017)
Church Visitation
(the 18th)
took place on
Saturday 2nd September 2017
in the area around
Marsh Gibbon, Bucks.
commencing at
10.00 am at
Quainton, Bucks.
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A general warning
about the state of the roads hereabouts - many
of the smaller country roads in the area to be
visited are badly affected by frost and water
damage, with large potholes, and areas of
damaged surfaces.
There are
two schools of thought as to how to tackle these
problems, either to drive slowly and try to
avoid the holes, or to drive
fast over them so that there is less lurching
about. Unfortunately
many drivers seem to adopt the latter approach,
to the detriment of approaching vehicles. You
have been warned !!!! |
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10.00 – 11.00
Quainton, Bucks
The Church of
The Holy Cross and the Blessed Virgin
Mary
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Explorer
Maps 181 & 192 : OS Ref 750202
Post Code :
Quainton is a village about 3 miles north
of Waddington which itself is on the A41 between
Bicester and Aylesbury. The side roads north of
Waddington lead into Quainton over the old
railway where the
Buckinghamshire Railway Centre
operates. (Although steaming this day, the
centre opens at 10,30 am - sorry!) Follow
the brown railway signs !
Having reached the main road through the village, turn right, then first
left up the hill towards the base of the old
windmill. Bear right at the next fork, then
right again on the level,. The church is at the
end of the road where is turns left around the
churchyard. There is room for parking
hereabouts, either opposite the old almshouses
you have just passed, or around the next corner
on the roadside verge - best on the left as you
point downhill.
There is a WC
in the church.
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11.30– 12.20
Wotton
Underwood,
Bucks.
The Church of
All Saints
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Explorer
Map 181 & 192 :
OS Ref 688159
Leave
Quainton Church by passing the church on the
right, down the short hill and turn right. Turn
right again on road which takes you through
Quainton in a westerly direction. In centre of
village, turn Left into Station Road, go past
the Railway Centre, over the next crossroads,
and turn Right on the A41.
After 1.2 miles,
go straight on at roundabout (effectively the
1st turn left), after another 1.2 miles take
first turn left at roundabout into Kingswood
Lane.
After 2.3 miles
down Kingswood Lane, turn Left at crossroads and
after another 0.6 miles turn Left again at a T
junction beside a railway bridge. After about
300 yards pass Lawn Farm and almost immediately
turn Left away from the Lodge gate.
This small road leads into the hamlet of Wotton Underwood, and the
church, after another Left and Right bend, is
under the trees on the right of the road – it’s
a dead end – apart from private tracks. |
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12.40 – 2.15
Lunch
at the
The Plough,
Marsh Gibbon, Bucks.
***
Download the Word file:
PLOUGH
MENU
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Explorer
Map 192 :
OS Ref 646231
Post Code :
LUNCH will be
partaken at the
Plough, Marsh Gibbon
Leave Wotton Underwood church, and retrace your journey back to the
A41, whereupon turn Left onto the A41.
Continue along A41 for 4.1 miles (a Roman road,
Akeman Street) and turn Right in front of the
Railway over-bridge, and then immediately right
again, not into the small trading estate, but
along another straight road leading directly to
Marsh Gibbon in about 2 miles.
Bear right
into village, do not turn left at next junction,
but turn Left at the second junction. This road
bears right, and leads to its junction with
Station Road. The Plough is here, on the right,
with the car park immediately before it, also on
the right.
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2.15
– 3.15
Twyford,
Bucks.
The Church of
The Assumption
of the Blessed
Virgin Mary
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Explorer
Map 192 :
OS Ref 665267
On leaving the
Plough car park (we are NOT singing at Marsh
Gibbon) turn right and immediately Left into
Station Street. Pass Marsh Gibbon church on your
left. This road takes you past the old station,
past the turning on the left into the village of
Poundon, and into the southern end of Twyford
Continue up the main street, do not turn right
to Steeple Claydon, and continue to end of main
street, where the church is on the right.
Parking on road, but a bit tight for space!
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3.30 – 4.30
Gawcott,
Bucks.
Holy Trinity Church
The foundations for Holy
Trinity Church were first laid in 1802, with the
chapel and burial ground being consecrated in
1806. The Reverend Thomas Scott was the first
vicar and was the father of George Gilbert
Scott, the renownedarchitect.
Unfortunately, the original church became
unsound following a long spell of dry weather in
the early 1800s and had to be demolished, being
replaced with the current building in 1827. |
Explorer
Map 192 :
OS Ref 681318
On leaving the church at
Twineham, retrace your steps down the High
Street, turn Left towards Steeple Claydon. Take
the first turn Left over an old railway line,
then Left again at crossroads on road probably
signposted to Buckingham, Gawcott and Preston
Bissett.
After a sharp roght
turn, do NOT take teft fork to Preston Bissett
or Chetwode, nor the next two turns to
Hillesden. The next village is Gawcott.
Continue into centre
of village. Do NOT take Buckingham Road or
Radclive Road, both on the right. Turn Left into
Main Street. Half way down the main street, you
will find the church.
Parking is possible
here, but if not, retrace your steps back up
past the church, round the corner to Church
Street, which runs parallel to Main Street,
behind the church, where it is possible to park
either in that street or the carpark used by the
Primary School.
The little building
just up the hill from the church door is a
unisex wc!
Gawcott’s best known son
is George Gilbert Scott. Born in the Village in
1811, he became a world famous architect,
building and restoring over 1,000 churches and
cathedrals and designing many well-known
structures including the Albert Memorial and St.
Pancras Station Hotel. George’s grandson, Giles
Gilbert Scott, designed the iconic red BT
telephone box and is famous for the design of
the Anglican Cathedral in Liverpool as well as
many other buildings around the country ... And,
yes, there was a gallery! |
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4.30
Tea
in
Gawcott Church
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Tea is in the Church, kindly
provided by the Women's Institute in Gawcott.
The cost of tea, music, etc is
£5, please, to be added to the cheque for lunch
at the Plough.
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See below for contact address, etc,
for Oxford Psalmody.
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Listen to the following mp3 files, recorded by Gary Sherman:
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Africa - Sacred Harp
music from St Michael's, Northgate, Oxford
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Babylon Streams - Trinity
College Chapel |
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Cookes Canon - University College
Chapel |
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Psalm 69 in a setting by Jarvis -
St Michael's, Northgate |
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The 'Worms' Anthem by William
Knapp - Trinity College Chapel |
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Shropshire Funeral Hymn -
University Church of St Mary the Virgin |
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mp3
mp3
mp3
mp3
mp3
mp3 |
Visit
http://www.archive.org/details/WestGalleryMusic-OxfordOccasionals
for further recordings of the
2008 tour of Oxford churches and college chapels, and from where you
can download a number of free media files. You also have the chance
to comment on them!! |
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Since
September 2000, a group of singers and instrumentalists from many different
parts of England have spent a day each year, touring churches and chapels in
different parts of the County and Diocese of Oxford, to recreate the psalmody and
hymnody of more than 150 years ago.
 Oxford
Psalmody is a gathering of members of the
West Gallery Music Association, formed
in 1990 to revive the music of the rural parish churches, so much beloved
of Thomas Hardy and exemplified in his novels and poetry.
Hardy wrote
of times past, the days when his father and grandfather were members of the
local church ‘band’, playing to accompany the quire in the specially
constructed ‘west gallery’ in
Stinsford Church.
The psalm tunes used during, before and after services in country churches,
were often by local, untutored composers, frequently bearing the
names of local streets, villages or landmarks. This raw and exciting
music was much beloved, and jealously guarded, by its custodians in the west
gallery; records exist of quires refusing the vicar’s instruction to sing a
particular tune to the psalm of the day, preferring to use another more to
their liking. With the passing of the years, all too frequently what
was initially a tussle for control of the conduct of services became an
issue of conflict with the clergy and the squire as patron.
 The
emergence of Tractarianism and the
Oxford Movement, together with the
introduction of Hymns Ancient & Modern in 1861,
saw the
wresting back of control by the church establishment, with the introduction
of surpliced choirs, often with small boys taking the tune, previously the
sinecure of adult, male, tenors. The installation of keyboard
instruments, such as harmoniums, barrel or finger organs spelt the end of
the accompanying band of cellos, clarinets,
violins, flutes, bassoons and the (more than) occasional serpent.
These instrumentalists, and their singing companions, first found their way
to the Independent chapels, where they continued to sing and play the old
tunes they loved, but by the beginning of the twentieth century, in all but
a few outposts, the old way of church psalmody was lost and virtually
forgotten in England.
 Such a fate
did not attend the descendants of those settlers who took English country
psalmody to America. In New England, from as early as the middle of the
eighteenth century, English psalm tune books were being sold in Boston
within months of their publication in England. This music inspired
native-born composers, just as untutored as their compatriots on the other
side of the Atlantic, and by 1770 a leather tanner,
William Billings
of Boston, had produced the first compilation of psalm tunes by a colonist.
There was a flowering of ethnic composition immediately before and after the
War of Independence, and the fervour for native psalmody spread throughout
the Eastern United States, finding its firmest and what has become a
permanent
foothold to this day, in the southern states, particularly Alabama and
Georgia. Here the music notation has evolved with shaped note heads as
a singing aid, rather than the ordinary round note heads and thus the term
‘shapenote music’ is often used to describe American psalmody.
Oxford Psalmody sing from both the English
and the American traditions. Our native tunes are usually accompanied, as
they were intended to be, but the psalm tunes of our American cousins are
sung a capella. These tunes are vibrant and exciting, and are a great joy to
sing and play. The group have as their watchword the instruction of a
Fellow of Lincoln College, Oxford - John Wesley - to “sing lustily and with good
courage”.
Pictures are taken from the West Gallery
Music Association publication Good Singing Still by
Rollo G Woods, Totton, Hants 1995 ISBN: 1 899947 00 0.
Some of
them have previously appeared in an edition of a novel by Washington Irvine.
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Oxford Psalmody
30 Eynsham Road, Botley, Oxford. OX2 9BP
Tel: +44 (0)1865 865773
Emails: (replace - at - with
@)
| shelwin8 - at - tiscali.co.uk |
| edwinmacadam - at - gmail.com |
Google Map to get there.
See our
separate website
for the Oxford Sacred Harp Singers.
See also Immanuel's Ground,
the west gallery quire based in Warwick which we run, and
which supports Oxford Psalmody.
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The
Oxford Sacred Harp Singers meet
regularly to sing Sacred Harp music on the first and third
Sunday afternoons
of every month in
Headington, Oxford. They
continue to sing together on the annual Oxford Church
Visitation tour at the beginning of September, and at the
annual Oxford Sacred Harp singing day at the Women's
Institute Hall, North Hinksey, Botley, Oxford, at
the end of June.
See also their FaceBook
page at:
Contact for Oxford Sacred Harp is
Julie
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