Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

The 19th 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 10:00 a.m. leading 34b. Edwin Macadam offered the opening prayer.

The following officers were elected or appointed to serve: Chairman—Sheila Girling Macadam; Treasurer—Edwin Macadam; Secretaries—Rebecca Over and Rosemary Cooper; Arranging Committee—Nick Hall and Werner Ullah; Chaplains—Edwin Macadam, Rebecca Over, Michael Walker, Gill Cole, and Mike Cooper.

Leaders: Edwin Macadam 371; Mandy Townsend 63; Dave Townsend 112; Werner Ullah 47t; Toby Goss 28b; Rachel Jordan 492; Michael Walker 131b; Deborah Mann 30t; Matthew Parkinson 31t; Rebecca Over 225t; Nick Hall 386; Sarah West 564; Joe Vickers 544; Margaret Gillanders 29t; Steve Brett 82t; Eli Petzold 101t; Ella Cumber 99.

RECESS

Ted Brown brought the class back to order leading 391. Leaders: Claire Welford 171; Dilwyn Scott 40; Magna Nowak 268; Cäcilia Mann 172; Toby Goss 189; Sheila Girling Macadam 102; Michael Walker 297; Rebecca Over 530; Matthew Parkinson 541; Deborah Mann 84; Steve Brett 201; Rachel Jordan 353; Edwin Macadam 250; Sarah West 399b; Joe Vickers 401; Margaret Gillanders 314; Nick Hall 147t; Cäcilia Mann 442; Eli Petzold 74b; Claire Welford 475; Ted Brown 549; Werner Ullah 73b.

RECESS

Ella Cumber brought the class back to order leading 144. Leaders: Toby Goss 178; Magna Nowak 313b; Michael Walker 369; Deborah Mann 274t; Derek Buckland 288; Matthew Parkinson 426t.

Rebecca Over conducted both the sick and housebound lesson and the memorial lesson. Rebecca spoke of the measure of comfort from messages received from other singers for anyone unable to attend an event in person, either through ill health, or as a care giver. We held the following in our thoughts: Nigel Cumber, David Elliott, Peter Sampson, Paula Mogensen, Sofi Mogensen, and John Taylor. She led 32b.

In the memorial lesson, Rebecca paid tribute to the contributions Hugh McGraw had made to Sacred Harp singing for over fifty years, his funeral having taken place at Holly Springs, Bremen, Georgia, three weeks earlier. We remembered the following: Jackie Saunders—Eynsham; Kathleen Evelyn Rowell—Lewes; June Eames—Cubbington; Clare-Marie Grigg—Longworth; Jean McDonald—Derby; Hugh McGraw and Geneva Prichard—Georgia, USA; Calvin Phillips and Jimmy Baily—Alabama, USA; Charles Wells—Minnesota, USA. Rebecca led 516 in their memory, and Michael Walker closed the memorial service with prayer.

Leaders: Cäcilia Mann 535; Werner Ullah 501; Magna Nowak 29b; Sheila Girling Macadam 372; Nick Hall 143; Margaret Gillanders 500. Gill Cole offered thanks for the midday meal.

LUNCH

The afternoon session commenced with Edwin Macadam leading 464. Leaders: Sarah West 546; Rachel Jordan 318; Steve Brett 527; Ella Cumber 491; Joe Vickers 392; Ted Brown 229; Claire Welford 384; Eli Petzold 105; Sheila Girling Macadam 480; Michael Walker 528; Edwin Macadam 236; Rachel Jordan 269; Nick Hall 455; Deborah Mann 117; Werner Ullah 457; Rebecca Over 114; Sarah West 436; Matthew Parkinson 32t; Steve Brett 166; Ella Cumber 77t; Joe Vickers 348b; Magna Nowak 504; Margaret Gillanders and Sue Bird 534; Ted Brown 448b.

RECESS

The final session commenced with Claire Welford and Isabelle Walker leading 299. Leaders: Sue Lanfear 163b; Cäcilia Mann 361; Werner Ullah 49b; Rachel Jordan 208; Michael Walker 378t; Nick Hall 137; Sarah West 376; Rebecca Over 107 (for Adrian Bolge, present at the singing but did not wish to lead); Matthew Parkinson 76b; Derek Buckland 159; Steve Brett 511; Joe Vickers 313t.

The Secretaries reported that forty-one singers had registered from the UK, Ireland, and Germany and ninety-six songs had been led by twenty-seven leaders. The Treasurer reported all the day’s expenses had been met. Announcements were made. Sheila Girling Macadam and Edwin Macadam thanked all the officers, committees and anyone who helped in any way to make this singing a success. It was agreed the 20th annual Oxford Sacred Harp Singing Day should be held at the Botley Women’s Institute Hall on Saturday, the 23rd of June, 2018.

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

Chairman—Sheila Girling Macadam; Secretaries—Rebecca Over and Rosemary Cooper