Music in St Margaret’s Church
The present-day St Margaret’s Choristers and Consort are the heirs of a tradition of choral music dating back at least to the present building’s consecration in 1523.
About the musicians
St Margaret's Choristers
Founded in 2023, this choir for girls aged 11-17 has quickly established itself as an important part of the Abbey’s musical and liturgical life.
St Margaret’s Consort
The Consort both sings as a mixed choir at special services in St Margaret’s, and provides the lower voices for services with the Choristers.
Greg Morris
As Director of Music of St Margaret’s, Greg Morris is the conductor of the Choristers and Consort, and responsible for music in the church.
History
Choral music in St Margaret’s Church dates back at least to the present building’s consecration in 1523, when two leading Tudor composers were closely associated with the church – Nicholas Ludford was churchwarden, while Robert Whyte played the organ and was buried in the churchyard alongside his wife and four daughters, who all died of the plague between 1572 and 1574.
Over the next few centuries, prominent musical figures who held the post of Organist of St Margaret’s include: Bernard Smith, master organ builder; Edward Purcell, son of Henry Purcell; virtuoso organist Edwin Lemare; and Thomas Trotter, who amongst many other distinctions was awarded the Queen’s Medal for Music in 2020, and still regularly plays for the church.
Winston Churchill was married in St Margaret’s in 1908, with a choir singing at the ceremony.
The present-day Consort has its roots in the Choir of St Margaret’s Church, which in the past half century has been conducted by, among others, Richard Hickox, Simon Over and Aidan Oliver.
