Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

The seventh Annual Oxford Sacred Harp Singing Day was held on Saturday before the fourth Sunday in June. Vice Chairman Sheila Girling Macadam called the class to order at 10:00 a.m. leading 28b, and offered the opening prayer.

The following officers were elected or appointed to serve: Chairman—Edwin Macadam; Vice Chairman/Secretary—Sheila Girling Macadam; Chaplains—Ken Baddley and Bernard Collard; Arranging Committee—Catherine Tyler and Margaret Gillanders; Pitching—Rachel Jordan; Locating/signs—Tony Singleton and Jenna Strizak; Food Co-ordination—Jean Barton, Jenny Ellis and Jenny Shufflebotham.

Edwin Macadam welcomed the class and led 84. Leaders: Rachel Jordan 66; Tony Singleton 128; Jenna Strizak 111t; Bernard Collard 63; Mandy Townsend 480; Chris Brown 497; Catherine Tyler 213t; Nick Hall 515; Ruth Steggles 171; Phil Tyler 267; Margaret Gillanders 312t; Steve Fletcher 42; Sheila Girling Macadam 49b; Edwin Macadam 504; Rachel Jordan 528; Tony Singleton 496; Jenna Strizak 460.

RECESS

Bernard Collard called the class back to order leading 362. Leaders: Steve Fletcher 38b; Nick Hall 474; Margaret Gillanders 203; Ken Baddley 486; Ruth Steggles 299; Chris Brown 330b; Roz Walker 429; Phil Tyler 76b; Mandy Townsend 318; Edwin Macadam 236; Catherine Tyler 475; Sheila Girling Macadam 148 (for Arwen Lockley); Tony Singleton 300; Rachel Jordan 269; Ken Baddley 27; Ruth Steggles 178; Chris Brown 127; Jenna Strizak 37b; Phil Tyler 428; Mandy Townsend 112; Margaret Gillanders 142; Catherine Tyler 457; Nick Hall 276; Roz Walker 383; Steve Fletcher 106. Edwin Macadam led “For What Thou Dost Provide” (Moore’s Divine Companion, 1750) as the prayer before lunch.

LUNCH

The afternoon session was brought to order by Edwin Macadam leading 107. Leaders: Sheila Girling Macadam 566; Rachel Jordan 501; Tony Singleton 277.

Ken Baddley conducted the memorial lesson, and read an email message sent out earlier that week by Matt and Rosie Wojcik, containing the news of the short life of their infant daughter, Laurette Elizabeth. He acknowledged, with the sadness shared by so many present who know and love Rosie and Matt, that there would be few memories to console them other than their sense of loss, and quoted from 2 Corinthians 1. 3:4 “Blessed be God, who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God”. Ken led for Rosie, Matt, and Laurette and for all those on the memorial list whose loss we mourn so deeply, one of the songs which Rosie and Matt chose for their memorial service for their daughter, 70t. Those remembered were: Laurette Elizabeth Wojcik (Vermont), John Mason, Joe Scurfield, Keith Morris, John Birmingham, Dave Hollingsworth, Betty Paton, Kelly Beard (Texas), Howard Salt, Christopher Walker, Mike Bickel, Andy Leith, Trevor Withall, Cyril Tawney, Wynn Hicks, Peter Whitehall, and Norman Turner.

The sick and housebound were recalled by Bernard Collard, who drew upon the image of the rainbow as a symbol of hope and promise after the storms of life, and often viewed through tears. He then led 344. Those remembered were Val Wallace, Arwen Lockley, Joan Wilson, James Oss, Grace Scrimgeour, Norma Russell, Sally Lee, Mary Kellaway, Vivienne Davinson, Jean McDougall, Hazel Walker, Janet Salway, Alec Brown, Liese Brown, Kitty Watkins, Mary Watkins, and Susie Hughes. The memorial was closed.

Leaders: Jenna Strizak 270; Phil Tyler 338; Nick Hall 454; Chris Brown 271t; Ruth Steggles 198; Margaret Gillanders 29t; Mandy Townsend 72b; Steve Fletcher 448t; Roz Walker 452.

RECESS

The class resumed singing with Catherine Tyler leading 228. Leaders: Sheila Girling Macadam 186; Edwin Macadam 163b; Rachel Jordan 189; Tony Singleton 66; Nick Hall 467b; Bernard Collard and Caroline Ungoed-Thomas 188; Ruth Steggles 143; Phil Tyler 217; Margaret Gillanders 282; Chris Brown 40.

RECESS

The final session commenced with Steve Fletcher leading 196. Leaders: Mandy Townsend 490; Jenna Strizak 384; Roz Walker 284; Ken Baddley 73b; Rachel Jordan 155; Edwin Macadam and Jean Barton 547; Catherine Tyler 68b.

Announcements were made. Edwin Macadam and Sheila Girling Macadam thanked all the officers, committees, and anyone else who helped in any way to make this singing possible, and led 347 as the closing song. Bernard Collard offered the closing prayer, and the class was dismissed.

Chairman—Edwin Macadam; Vice Chairman/Secretary—Sheila Girling Macadam.