Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

The 18th annual Oxford Sacred Harp Singing Day was held on Saturday before the fourth Sunday in June. Sheila Girling Macadam called the class to order at 10:15 a.m. leading 34b. Dilwyn Scott offered the opening prayer.

The following officers were elected or appointed to serve: Chairman—Sheila Girling Macadam; Vice Chairman—Edwin Macadam; Secretaries: Rebecca Over and Mary Welch; Arranging Committee—Nick Hall and Werner Ullah; Treasurer—Jenny Shufflebotham.

Leaders: Edwin Macadam 472; Rachel Jordan 173; Toby Goss 47b; Nick Hall 73b; Steve Welch 467; Steve Marini 47t; Rebecca Over 353 (in memory of Earlis McGraw); Michael Walker 131b; Calum Woods 37b; Steve Fletcher 278t; Werner Ullah 49t; Leslie Alperin 163b; Dilwyn Scott 40.

RECESS

Calum Woods brought the class back to order leading 201. Leaders: Wendy Stone 146; Claire Singleton 299; Helen Brown 217; Sheila Macadam 367; Ted Brown 35; Edwin Macadam 534; Rachel Jordan 351; Nick Hall 515; Toby Goss 143; Steve Welch and Antonina Spittal 228; Rebecca Over 383; Steve Marini 455; Steve Fletcher 180; Michael Walker 475; Calum Woods 186; Werner Ullah 101t; Leslie Alperin 268; Helen Brown 430.

RECESS

Rachel Jordan brought the class back to order leading 52t. Leaders: Ted Brown 339; Claire Singleton 82t; Steve Welch 107; Edwin Macadam 444; Toby Goss 300; Nick Hall 538.

Gill Gole conducted the sick and housebound lesson, drawing an analogy of loneliness and the effectiveness of a simple act such as a phone call or an email message, and reflecting on how one day we might all find ourselves in the position of needing the compassion of others. Those particularly in our thoughts were Paula Mogensen, John Charles, Quinn Joseph Stensel (9 days old and in the neo-natal unit at the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford), Vivian Thickett, Sylvia Marlow, Jackie Saunders, the wife of Robin Mitchell, Sheila Dodsworth, Alexander Cresswell, Jim Mitchell, Dorothy Singleton, Sister Pippa, Ruth Steggles, Karen Turner, John Powell, and Roy Hollowell. Sheila Girling Macadam led 95 in their honor.

In the memorial lesson, Steve Marini asked us to accept that change was a continuous part of life which we should embrace, and to see death only as a transition, not finality. We remembered the following: Earlis McGraw and George Garner—Georgia, USA; Hester Edwards, Robert DuPree, and S.T. Reed—Alabama, USA; June Howieson—Hove; Kath Mountstephen—Bristol; Phillipa Welch—Germany; Roger Johnson—Maine, USA; Owen Jander—Massachusetts, USA; Margaret Owen—Eynsham; Charles Dodsworth—Oxford; Karl Dallas—Bradford; Gillian Woodward, Irene Smith, Pete Zorn, and Michael Spittal—London; Dave Smith—Derby; Bernie Worrell—Washington, USA; and Dave Swarbrick—Coventry. Steve led 285t in their memory. Sheila Girling Macadam closed the lesson with prayer.

The class resumed singing with Michael Walker leading 320. Leaders: Rachel Jordan 457; Rebecca Over 284; Calum Woods 205; Steve Fletcher 59. Calum Woods offered thanks for the midday meal.

LUNCH

The afternoon session commenced with Nick Hall leading 502. Leaders: Michael Walker 227; Helen Brown 436; Calum Woods 273; Rachel Jordan 195; Ted Brown 179; Rebecca Over 422; Steve Fletcher 504; Sheila Girling Macadam and Adrian Bolge 156; Toby Goss 178; Edwin Macadam and Sheila Macadam 236; Steve Welch 147b; Steve Marini 250; Leslie Alperin 277; Claire Singleton 171; Margaret Gillanders 203; Werner Ullah 111b; Helen Brown and Ted Brown 225t; Rachel Jordan and Nick Hall 546; Steve Fletcher 216; Michael Walker 336.

RECESS

The final session commenced with Calum Woods leading 73t. Leaders: Sue Lanfear 86; Toby Goss 210; Steve Marini 254; Steve Welch 489; Sheila Girling Macadam 142; Nick Hall 492; Edwin Macadam 481; Rachel Jordan 181; Leslie Alperin 379; Calum Woods 569t; Claire Singleton 448b; Rebecca Over 76b; Sue Lanfear 334; Wendy Stone 312b; Michael Walker 410b; Steve Marini 569b; Toby Goss 474; Steve Fletcher and Toby Goss 87.

The Secretary reported thirty-four singers had registered from the UK, USA, and Australia, and eighty-eight songs had been led. The Treasurer reported all expenses had been met. Sheila Girling Macadam and Edwin Macadam thanked all the officers, committees, and anyone who helped in any way to make this singing a success. Today was the last Sacred Harp singing at this venue. It is intended that the 2017 singing will be held at one of two locations, each within 300 yards of Seacourt Hall.

Sheila Girling Macadam and Edwin Macadam led 347 as the closing song. Michael Walker offered the closing prayer, and the class was dismissed.

Chairman—Sheila Girling Macadam; Vice Chairman—Edwin Macadam; Secretaries—Rebecca Over and Mary Welch