After being put together in 2013 to celebrate Christ Church United Reformed Church’s 90th birthday, the Bellingham Community Gospel Choir has grown from strength to strength. Choir member, the Revd Fiona Thomas, who is also the URC’s Secretary for Education and Learning, said the initial goal of the choir, which started very small before growing, was to sing at the Bellingham Festival. She explains how much the participants liked being part of the choir.
People were surprised at how quickly they were able to pick up the songs and enjoyed the experience tremendously. We thought about how good it would be if there could be a choir in Bellingham and sought funding to make it happen.
There’s so much gained from being part of the choir. Benefits include new friendships, greater confidence, better breathing, regular exercise and consolation during times of challenge.
The audiences enjoy the energy and enthusiasm which the choir bring to their performances. Many of the choir participants are people living with chronic illness who look forward to Tuesday nights when the choir sings together. Members have voluntarily contributed over £3,000 from their own resources towards running costs during the four years of the choir's life so far, enabling it to be open to everyone.
High points have included taking part in a community concert which raised nearly £700 for a cancer research charity, participating in the Wildcat Wilderness' Harvest Festival in Catford, and taking a lead in the Bellingham in Harmony project which drew together a group of singers and drummers to perform at the Lewisham People's Day.
The choir, founded by people who wanted to make a difference, continues to look for ways in which soulful singing can raise the spirits of the people around us.
This choir began with a few people who believed in something, took a risk and made a difference, just like Jesus did. What could your church do to ‘Walk the Way’ in your context? Visit www.bcgcsing.org to find out more about how Bellingham Community Gospel Choir does it.
