Leeds churches and students have spent a weekend learning how to enhance their music in worship with the help of musicians Geraldine and Carey Luce from the London School of Theology.
First, the couple spent a day at Abbey Grange Academy, and later the pupils showcased what they’d learnt at a concert at St Stephen’s, Kirkstall (left). Chaplain Kay Brown, says, “The students had a lot of fun singing together and the level of musicianship rose noticeably, but more importantly we saw students move from music to worship, which will enrich our whole community”.
On Saturday, Carey and Geraldine helped over 70 participants at St Wilfrid’s Calverley appreciate traditional and modern forms of music for worship. There were workshops on singing Gospel, the Psalms in worship, samba drumming, worship for a non-book culture and how to form and manage worship bands. The Revd Phil Arnold says, “It was a great day that inspired us to be more confident in participating in worship, and in the evening Carey and Geraldine put on a spine-tingling concert drawing on the gospel and spiritual traditions along with jazz and contemporary worship”.
On Sunday a joyful celebration was held at St Margaret’s Horsforth, featuring drumming, Taizé, gospel singing and a mix of traditional and contemporary worship.
Archdeacon Paul Hooper said, “The weekend was made possible by a generous donor who wanted to encourage the Anglican Church in Leeds. It was a good investment! It has been an inspiring time and we pray for a lasting enrichment of Christian life and corporate worship in the city.”