Welcome to RSCM Wessex

The RSCM in Wessex is here to help churches develop the music in their worship. It is a network of people who are committed to music in worship: some are professional musicians, others are retired but active and keen to continue to be involved on a voluntary basis, and others are, like so many, simply church members who care about music in worship and who contribute in their various ways, Sunday by Sunday.

Good communication is vital if we are to be able to help church members make a difference to the music in their worship. This website provides an opportunity to be in contact with members and affiliated churches on a regular basis. Gone are the days when you had to wait six months for a printed paper to arrive on your doormat! Make sure this website is on your favourites list and keep in touch so that we can help you.

Choirs in West Dorset are busy preparing for the Lyme Bay Deanery Choirs' Festival at St. Mary's, Bridport on Saturday 20th September at 5.00pm.

Diocesan Choirs' Festivals are taking place at St. Mary's, Sturminster Newton on September 28th and at St. John's, Devizes on October 12th.

You are welcome to join our Plainsong Workshop led by Trevor Jarvis at St. Mary's, Dorchester on October 4th. The afternoon will finish with Compline.

John Barnard visits our Area in November to give a presentation about the new photocopiable resource 'Season by Season', a companion to the RSCM Carol Book.

Have you booked your place at the Diocesan Music Day at Corfe Mullen on November 8th?

The Wild Goose Resources Group online shop is now live! The latest catalogue includes 'WE WALK HIS WAY', the long-awaited third collection in the 'wee songs' series. Also featured is 'Sing with the World', a book of twenty-four songs to sing with children. The new website is at

The Edington Festival of Music within the Liturgy takes place between August 17th and 24th. The theme of this year's festival is The Lord's Prayer. Edington Priory Church is in the Wiltshire village of Edington, four miles east of Westbury on the B3098. For more information visit

Ralph Vaughan Williams, composer and music editor of The English Hymnal (1906), was born on 12th October 1872 and died on 26th August 1958. Churches are encouraged, in this fiftieth year since his death, to sing his hymn tunes in worship on 12th October 2008. A particularly appropriate hymn for those wishing to honour his memory is 'Come down, O Love divine', sung to the tune Down Ampney, named after the Gloucestershire village in which Vaughan Williams was born.

If you are keen to take up the Bishop's challenge, made after the chorister award ceremony in the cathedral during the Diocesan Choirs' Festival in June, to return next summer having passed the examination, there is no time to waste! The award syllabus is on the diocesan website. If you would like to gather some fellow singers together for a workshop in preparation for it, let us know on 01722-337025 or at [Send Email].

Bookings are now being taken for what promises to be an exciting day for parish musicians on Saturday 8th November at St. Nicholas's Church, Corfe Mullen, Dorset. A day of workshops including:World Music, using instruments in worship, choral direction, organ playing and Music in the Eucharist. Geoff Weaver is the keynote speaker.

[ Read the rest ... ]

Congratulations to Kate Price of St. Thomas's, Salisbury, who was presented with the 'Voice for Life' Gold Award by the Bishop of Salisbury at the Diocesan Choirs' Festival in the cathedral on Sunday 8th June.

Thirty choristers from ten parish churches in Wessex achieved awards in the examinations held last October, February and in May. We congratulate them on their success.

[ Read the rest ... ]

This year's festival is to be on Saturday 20th September at St. Mary's, Bridport. Contact Peter Jezard, Director of Music at St. Mary's, for more details: 01308-422136.