Southend Bach Choir presented Glories of English Music, a celebratory evening of choral music held on Saturday 13th July 2024 at West Leigh Baptist Church, Leigh-on-Sea. The programme showcased much-loved works by John Rutter, Charles Villiers Stanford and Bob Chilcott, offering a rich journey through English sacred and secular repertoire.

The concert featured powerful choral works including Rutter’s Te Deum and Gloria, Stanford’s evocative Songs of the Fleet, and Chilcott’s lyrical The Lily and the Rose. The audience also enjoyed a selection of traditional and folk-inspired pieces such as O Danny Boy, Skye Boat Song, and Over the Wave.

Baritone Nicholas Bacon was the evening’s soloist, performing Stanford’s Songs of the Fleet (including Sailing at Dawn, The Song of the Sou’-wester, and Farewell), as well as Vaughan Williams’ Songs of Travel (The Vagabond, Let Beauty Awake and The Roadside Fire). Stanford’s beautifully atmospheric The Blue Bird added a moment of stillness and reflection to the programme.

The concert took place at West Leigh Baptist Church, founded in 1914 and long committed to serving the local community through initiatives such as youth and children’s work, the Southend Foodbank and the Parish Nurse ministry. Proceeds from the evening supported the church’s Phase 2 building project, which will provide a sports hall, dedicated spaces for Parish Nurses, and kitchen facilities to further benefit both the church family and the wider community.

It was an evening that combined outstanding English music with a strong sense of community purpose, and the audience’s support played a vital role in helping to bring the church’s vision for the future closer to completion.