The Parish Church Choir

For over thirty years musical excellence has been at the forefront of worship at the Parish Church. Renowned across the diocese, this friendly and thriving choir of mixed voices has over 30 members, led by the Director of Music, Phil Johnson. Every Sunday at the 10.30am Choral Eucharist the choir leads the music and also at Evensong at 6pm on the first Sunday of the month. For the current music list, please click here.

The choir has a busy schedule of weekly rehearsals and services, providing music for Sunday worship throughout the year, with additional services for major festivals and occasional concerts. The choir has a wide repertoire from early polyphony right up to new compositions published in the last five years. The organist, John Ridgway, is himself a composer and regularly writes new pieces for local performance. 

Most summers, the choir goes on tour either to another European country or to a cathedral in the UK.  The 2023 tour was to Seesen in Germany, Wantage's twin town and in August 2024 the choir spent a week in the north-west of England, singing in both Blackburn and Liverpool Cathedrals.

The choir has thriving Junior Choir and runs a programme of choral and organ scholarships for young people aged between 14 and 25, founded in memory of Dickon Peschek, a much-missed choir member. Several of the scholars have moved on to take up university choral and organ scholarships.  See the poster below for further details

The choir is always keen to welcome new singers. If you think you might like to come and give the choir a try, please contact Music Director,  Phil Johnson.