Ready to explore a church that helped shape modern church music? We are standing before the Church of St. Mary the Virgin. This church isn’t just bricks and mortar. It is a testament to the evolution of worship.
The Church of St. Mary the Virgin opened its doors in 1872. From its start, the church embraced the Anglo-Catholic tradition. This meant ornate worship in English, a departure from the Latin used by Roman Catholics. London felt the winds of change from the Oxford Movement. The Gothic revival influenced the church’s design and worship style.
In its early years, the Church of St. Mary the Virgin resonated with plainsong. Also known as Gregorian Chant, this ancient music was once banished from the Church of England. The Reformation cast a shadow on this music. However, the 19th century saw its revival. Religious communities cherished and preserved plainsong. The Church of St. Mary the Virgin became a pioneer, singing plainsong in English.
Two figures Rev GH Palmer and Francis Burgess shaped the music at St. Mary’s. In 1900, they became Choirmaster and Organist respectively. Palmer was a scholar who restored plainsong to the Church of England. His books are still used today. Burgess modernized plainsong, making it accessible to 20th-century musicians.
Then came Rev Percy Dearmer in 1901. He became the vicar of the Church of St. Mary the Virgin. Dearmer transformed the church into a model for liturgical practice. He believed worship should be beautiful and dignified. He wanted to improve the standard of preaching. Good music was essential for good worship.
Dearmer’s principles led to The English Hymnal in 1906. He enlisted Ralph Vaughan Williams as musical editor. The hymnal drew from the vast landscape of English poetry. For the first time, a great composer was associated with a church hymnbook.
Vaughan Williams unearthed ancient and traditional music. The English Hymnal included seven tunes by Tudor composer Thomas Tallis. One inspired Vaughan Williams’ famous Fantasia on a Theme of Tallis. He also introduced English folk tunes and French church melodies.
Martin Shaw, who assisted Vaughan Williams, became Organist in 1909. Later his brother Geoffrey succeeded him in 1920. Together with Dearmer, the Shaw brothers shaped 20th-century church music. Leading figures like John Ireland, Gustav Holst and Vaughan Williams frequented the services.
Dearmer, Martin Shaw and Vaughan Williams created two more influential books. Songs of Praise was published in 1925. The Oxford Book of Carols followed in 1928. These books included traditional English carols and new settings. The Shaw brothers harmonized the carols.
Martin Shaw wrote An Anglican Folk Mass at the Church of St. Mary the Virgin. It became widely known in the Church of England. The Shaw brothers’ modern hymns didn’t end the plainsong tradition. Geoffrey Shaw composed motets on plainsong themes.
Today the Church of St. Mary the Virgin continues its musical legacy. The choir sings weekly at services. Their repertoire ranges from plainsong to contemporary compositions. They give concerts and make recordings. The Church of St. Mary the Virgin remains a beacon of musical innovation.