Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

The 10th Thanksgiving Singing Day was held in the Village Hall of Jordans, the Quaker Village, and burial place of William Penn. The class was called to order by Sheila Girling Macadam leading 34b. Rebecca Over offered the opening prayer.

Leaders: Brenda Harvey 47t; Toby Goss 472; Nigel Bowley 39t; Francis Gaskin 39b; Kathryn Whelan 147b; Werner Ullah 33b; Neil Horlock 107; Amy Cutts 142; Maggie Eiseman-Renyard 72b; Joyce Smith 223; Edwin Macadam 171; Teresa Maguire 89; Pete Eiseman-Renyard 66; Steve Welch 569t; George Simms 63; Alec Williams 312b; Victoria Timberlake 133; Derek Buckland 429; Thomas Sprackland 37b; Kate Kirwan 88b; Johannes Sauer 285t; Ted Brown 34t; Jacoba Bruneel 112; Barry Parsons 92.

The following officers and committee members served for the day: Chairman—Sheila Girling Macadam; Vice Chairman—Edwin Macadam; Treasurer—Werner Ullah; Secretaries—Sofi Mogensen, Rebecca Over, and Mary Welch; Arranging Committee—Nigel Bowley and Kate Kirwan; Chaplains—Rebecca Over, George Simms, Victoria Timberlake, and Lamar Matthew.

RECESS

The class resumed singing with Rachel Jordan leading 350. Leaders: Calum Woods 132; Brenda Harvey 29t; Sam Carter 168; Nick Hall 422; Rebecca Over 306 (for Michael Walker); Robin Bisson 474; Inga Huebner 359; Helen Brown 475; Steve Brett 408; Seth Dickens 193.

George Simms conducted a combined memorial and sick and housebound lesson, reflecting on what the Sacred Harp singing community means to him, and the significance of the support and comfort it brings to us all. He led 70t for the following sick and housebound: Pat Newns, Adrian Hilton, Kim Harrison, Thom Bonneville, George Bonneville, Charlene Wallace, Velton Chafin, Ottis Sides, John Cattrell, Paula Mogensen, Elspeth Hannen, David Chantler, and Vonnie Chantler.

He led 538 in memory of the following deceased: Wawena Entrekin Miles, Audrey Ruth Garner, Florice Akin, Louise Holland, and Ruth Ayers—Georgia, USA; Rodney Willard and Barbara Willard—Arizona, USA; Steve Helwig—Oregon, USA; Elizabeth Rechenberg—Ohio, USA; Edith Owen and Doug Webb—Texas, USA; Daphene Causey—Alabama, USA; Mary Ellen Schrock and Michael Kaye—New York, USA; Geoffrey Rendle, Roy Bailey, Kamila Zahnd, Michael Seifert, and Michael Ridge—London; Neville Taylor—Malvern Hills; Susan Carr—Leeds; Bill Caddick—Jackville; Jane Rice—Southampton; Joyce Farrell and Peter Golding—Derby; John Hayto—Leicester; Charlie Hicks—Hereford; Ivan Bainbridge—Sheerness; John Marsh—Essex; and Reginald Brett—Sunningdale. George closed the memorial with prayer.

Leaders: Aldo Ceresa 176t; Teresa Maguire 176b; Harry Scott 542; Barry Parsons 453; Jacoba Bruneel 274t; Lamar Matthew 35; Francis Gaskin 116; Toby Goss 479; Amy Cutts 38t; Thomas Sprackland 314; Derek Buckland 161; Nigel Bowley 466; Alec Williams 348t; Ted Brown 426b. Victoria Timberlake offered thanks for the midday meal.

LUNCH

The afternoon session commenced with Seth Dickens leading 497. Leaders: Robin Bisson 272; Sheila Girling Macadam 377; Edwin Macadam 236; Joyce Smith 401; Steve Welch 489; Inga Huebner 209; Steve Brett 456; Rebecca Over 461; Sam Carter 512; Helen Brown 434 (in memory of Daphene Causey and Louise Holland); Calum Woods 225b; Lamar Matthew 154; Barry Parsons 483; Oskar Kvasner 87; Harry Scott 186; George Simms 294; Rachel Jordan 500; Alec Williams 540; Nick Hall 455; Pete Eiseman-Renyard 504; Teresa Maguire 506; Werner Ullah 278t; Nigel Bowley 517.

RECESS

The class was reconvened for the final session by Ted Brown leading 77t. Leaders: Neil Horlock 324; Johannes Sauer 227; Jac Gehring 178; Oskar Kvasner 388; Kate Kirwan 312t; Harry Scott 448t; Maggie Eiseman-Renyard 282; Francis Gaskin 211; Harriet Micklewright 268; Helen Brown 430; Lamar Matthew 156; Rebecca Over 197; Aldo Ceresa 228; Rachel Jordan 546; Sam Carter 556; Calum Woods 271b; Edwin Macadam 217.

Thanks were given to all those who had helped in any way to make the day’s singing a success. Announcements were made. The Secretary reported fifty-six singers had registered from the UK, Germany, Norway, Japan, and two American states. Forty-two leaders had led ninety-five songs. After expenses had been met, the surplus from the day’s donations would again be passed to the Quakers for their use.

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

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