Cornovian Singers perform about 10 events annually in the Shrewsbury area.
Our most recent events include a service celebrating the Wiliam Tyndale anniversary at Pontesbury Chapel (17th May) and a concert of music celebrating William Tyndale and Thomas Cranmer at St Michael's Church, Ford (21st March).
Hi Paul,
Just wanted to offer a huge thank you to you and the Cornovian Singers for the wonderful concert you provided for St Michael's Church on Saturday afternoon.
The ‘history chat’ was very interesting and it was evident that you were very knowledgeable and passionate on the subject of Tyndale and Cranmer.
The choir was a joy to listen to and so was the choice of music.
I hope you all enjoyed your time with us at Ford, and look forward to another event later in the year. We have a PCC meeting on the 13th April and I will ask for some possible dates and then get back to you.
Very best wishes
Jenny
Paul Bracken and the Cornovian Singers recently visited our Congregational Chapel at Pontesbury for the third time, by popular request. Cornovian Singers are a small mixed choir with a considerable repertoire of sacred music, some composed by Paul himself. We have a number of visiting choirs and though we have a small and, like elsewhere, a diminishing fellowship, we have a strong tradition of choral singing. Each time, Paul and the singers lead the whole service for us which is a great treat. Paul choses a current theme which this time was Tyndale's Bible Translation. A fascinating, and as always brilliantly researched, short treatise which all enjoyed. This was interspersed with choral items and hymns with the congregation. It was great to join in with such a wonderful sound.
Paul is a personal friend with whom I share a common interest in early sacred music. He is also an excellent pianist and organist with a speciality in jazz. We really look forward to these visits and hope to see and hear them again very soon.
Bob Boden
Long-standing member, Pontesbury Congregational church
and founder member of the West Gallery Music Association.
Dear Paul,
Thank you for the superb presentation with Cornovian Singers at our Congregational Church in Pontesbury today. The selection of hymns you chose was delightful, and it included some things most of us would never have heard in Church starting from ‘Pastyme with good company' from Henry VIII, on to the last ‘If ye love me by’ by Thomas Tallis, and the concluding ‘All people that on earth do dwell’.
It was so well connected with the history you presented about William Tyndale - the fact that 80% of his work appears in the King James version of the Bible was an eye opener.
Thank you for the time and thought put into this rare opportunity - the vocal presentation of the singers along with musical accompaniment was something of excellence that I will remember for a great while.
Yours with huge respect, Patrick Dickson.
We both loved the pieces you sang at the Congregational Chapel in Pontesbury, - you brought an Appalachian style which was amazing, and the Latin songs were also great - really different from the usual Christmas fayre. (Sandy and Patrick)
Events for 'Autumn Term' 2025 included:
Saturday 20th December at 4 pm - Carol Service at All Saints Worthen with Brian Cottle (organ)
Sunday 14th December at 4 pm - Carol service at Holy Trinity Yockleton with Sian West (organ)
Sunday 7th December at 10 am - Advent Carol Service at Pontesbury Congregational Chapel.
Sunday 26th October at 5 pm: Psalms - an evening service at Yockleton Church, based on the psalms, and the development of early hymnody. Including favourite Welsh hymns to sing, and featuring the first performance of a brand new setting of Psalm 121 written for us.
Our most recent events include a service celebrating the Wiliam Tyndale anniversary at Pontesbury Chapel (17th May) and a concert of music celebrating William Tyndale and Thomas Cranmer at St Michael's Church, Ford (21st March).
Hi Paul,
Just wanted to offer a huge thank you to you and the Cornovian Singers for the wonderful concert you provided for St Michael's Church on Saturday afternoon.
The ‘history chat’ was very interesting and it was evident that you were very knowledgeable and passionate on the subject of Tyndale and Cranmer.
The choir was a joy to listen to and so was the choice of music.
I hope you all enjoyed your time with us at Ford, and look forward to another event later in the year. We have a PCC meeting on the 13th April and I will ask for some possible dates and then get back to you.
Very best wishes
Jenny
Paul Bracken and the Cornovian Singers recently visited our Congregational Chapel at Pontesbury for the third time, by popular request. Cornovian Singers are a small mixed choir with a considerable repertoire of sacred music, some composed by Paul himself. We have a number of visiting choirs and though we have a small and, like elsewhere, a diminishing fellowship, we have a strong tradition of choral singing. Each time, Paul and the singers lead the whole service for us which is a great treat. Paul choses a current theme which this time was Tyndale's Bible Translation. A fascinating, and as always brilliantly researched, short treatise which all enjoyed. This was interspersed with choral items and hymns with the congregation. It was great to join in with such a wonderful sound.
Paul is a personal friend with whom I share a common interest in early sacred music. He is also an excellent pianist and organist with a speciality in jazz. We really look forward to these visits and hope to see and hear them again very soon.
Bob Boden
Long-standing member, Pontesbury Congregational church
and founder member of the West Gallery Music Association.
Dear Paul,
Thank you for the superb presentation with Cornovian Singers at our Congregational Church in Pontesbury today. The selection of hymns you chose was delightful, and it included some things most of us would never have heard in Church starting from ‘Pastyme with good company' from Henry VIII, on to the last ‘If ye love me by’ by Thomas Tallis, and the concluding ‘All people that on earth do dwell’.
It was so well connected with the history you presented about William Tyndale - the fact that 80% of his work appears in the King James version of the Bible was an eye opener.
Thank you for the time and thought put into this rare opportunity - the vocal presentation of the singers along with musical accompaniment was something of excellence that I will remember for a great while.
Yours with huge respect, Patrick Dickson.
We both loved the pieces you sang at the Congregational Chapel in Pontesbury, - you brought an Appalachian style which was amazing, and the Latin songs were also great - really different from the usual Christmas fayre. (Sandy and Patrick)
Events for 'Autumn Term' 2025 included:
Saturday 20th December at 4 pm - Carol Service at All Saints Worthen with Brian Cottle (organ)
Sunday 14th December at 4 pm - Carol service at Holy Trinity Yockleton with Sian West (organ)
Sunday 7th December at 10 am - Advent Carol Service at Pontesbury Congregational Chapel.
Sunday 26th October at 5 pm: Psalms - an evening service at Yockleton Church, based on the psalms, and the development of early hymnody. Including favourite Welsh hymns to sing, and featuring the first performance of a brand new setting of Psalm 121 written for us.
Cornovian Singers at Shrewsbury Abbey on 10th May 2024. Tourists were delighted with a programme of a capella singing in this delightful setting, including anthems by Bach, Wesley, psalms, settings of Ave Maria, Sanctus, Cantate Domino and some Gregorian Chant.
Cornovian Singers followed this up with 'Times and Seasons', given on 25th May, 2024 at All Saints Worthen, a fundraising event for the benefit of this historic Church. This very popular concert took listeners on a journey through the Church Calendar, blending music and words, Christian traditions, history and folklore.
Times and Seasons included first public performances of some new music written especially for our choir. The Worthen event raised £687 for church funds, and was been so successful that we repeated it (with variations) at several different venues this summer.
Cornovian Singers followed this up with 'Times and Seasons', given on 25th May, 2024 at All Saints Worthen, a fundraising event for the benefit of this historic Church. This very popular concert took listeners on a journey through the Church Calendar, blending music and words, Christian traditions, history and folklore.
Times and Seasons included first public performances of some new music written especially for our choir. The Worthen event raised £687 for church funds, and was been so successful that we repeated it (with variations) at several different venues this summer.