Visit to West Wickham URC 14th March 2014

We enjoyed a further visit from the South London Fellowship Band of the Salvation Army on Friday 14th March when they regaled us once more with a varied programme of music and choral singing from members of the band under the direction of Darrell Scholes, the Musical Director and Conductor.

There were some super solos from the musicians. Stuart Gilbert (Baritone) ‘In This Quiet Moment’; Alan Moyse (Cornet) ‘Happy All The Day’; Roger Gadsden (Horn) ‘Green Hill’; Adrian Horwood (Euphonium) ‘Habour Light’; Les Swift (Vocal) ‘Love Changes Everything’; and the Trombone Section ‘The Cleansing Power’.

The evening provided music for all tastes commencing with the opening march ‘The Gospel Feast’. The Air Varie ‘The Old Wells’ had wonderful resonance at this Lenten time, and the meditation ‘Gift For His Altar’ was very thought-provoking. The movies were represented with the music ‘Somewhere Out There’ and the band’s concert items were ‘Cossack Wedding Dance’, ‘Bandology’ and ‘A London Celebration’.

The band sang two male voice items – ‘Redeemed’ and ‘You’re Never Too Far From God’. There was also an opportunity for everyone to join in with the singing of ‘O for a thousand tongues to sing’ (an old song to a new arrangement) and John Moye provided a reading and thought from scripture.

The band brought the evening to a close with an arrangement of ‘How Great Thou Art’.

The things that stands out with the band is their friendliness and their joy in coming to Emmanuel – a sentiment we all share: long may it continue!

(Adapted from an article to appear in the April edition of the Emmanuel United Reformed Church magazine written by the editor Charles Sebestyen)