Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

The 4th session of the Manchester Sacred Harp Singing met at Withington Methodist Church, Manchester, on Saturday before the second Sunday in October. The class was called to order by Matthew Parkinson leading 47t. Sophie Phipson offered the opening prayer.

Leaders: Tom Sprackland 460; Sophie Lockhart 81t; Richard Percival 479; Susanna Cox 49t; Chal Zon 294; Lucy Atkinson 547; Barry Parsons 465; Jacoba Bruneel 421; Joshua Lant 439; Sophie Phipson 129; Werner Ullah 278t; Hannah Land 556; Derek Buckland 330t; Kate Kirwan 105; Margaret Bradshaw 114; Chris Coombs 72b; Jessica Beer 436; Brenda Bowley 499.

RECESS

John Sprackland led 49b to bring the class together. Leaders: Martel Reynolds 448b; Harriet Monkhouse 392; Alastair Warner 117; Claire Welford 475; Rowan Simms 365; Catherine van Duzer 481; Al Williams 37b; Inga Buckland 42; Chris Adam 426t.

The memorial lesson was conducted by Hannah Land, who read the following list of names of the deceased: Emily Webster—Cambridge, UK; Dawn Jeffrey, Zareer Masani, and Dinos Nearchou—London, UK; Peter Polish—Carmarthen, UK; Betty Hine—Stockport, UK; Pat Beaton—Blackpool, UK; Derek Beaton and Carol Whittaker—Freckleton, UK; Summer York—Bristol, UK; Robert Laycock—Derby, UK; Keith Scott—Topsham, UK; Brian Parkinson—Norwich, UK; Uschi Nolte—Bremen, Germany; LaVerne Lewis, John van Duzer, and Alfred Saussotte—Colorado, USA; Malik Williams, Richard Mauldin, and Henry Guthery—Alabama, USA; P. Dan Brittain—Arkansas, USA; Dan Burk, Jeff Begley, and Susan Fetcho—California, USA; Chloe Webb—Texas, USA.

She also read the following list of names of the sick and housebound: Doreen Rogers, Rob Mahoney, Colin Richards, Elizabeth Richards, Cath Tyler, and Larry Dinh. Hannah led 107.

Leaders: Nigel Bowley 66; Karen Turner 528; Phil Tyler 474; Sarah West 215; Nick Hall 213b; Charlotte Lynch and Joshua Lant 212. Grace was said before lunch by Chal Zon.

LUNCH

The afternoon session began with Leilai Immel-Parkinson leading 128. Leaders: Theresa Hughes and Oisin Kisdon-Ireland 551; Richard Mayers 182; Sunny Doyle 300; Richard Ogden and Matthew Parkinson 448t; Jacoba Bruneel 383; Barry Parsons 500; Jessica Beer 430; Al Williams 183; Kate Kirwan 444; Nick Hall 455; Claire Welford 532; Margaret Bradshaw 318; Phil Tyler 320; Rowan Simms 250; Sarah West 376; Joshua Lant 458; Sophie Lockhart 335; Derek Buckland 101b; Karen Turner 280; Chris Adam 339; Martel Reynolds 506; Hannah Land 507; Chris Coombs 142; Inga Buckland 453.

RECESS

The class was brought back to order by Werner Ullah leading 457. Leaders: Nigel Bowley 503; Sophie Phipson 112; Alastair Warner 47b; Brenda Bowley 400; Chal Zon 65; Charlotte Lynch 432; Richard Mayers 524; Leilai Immel-Parkinson 56b; John Sprackland 268; Kate Kirwan 345b; Sunny Doyle 313b; Nick Hall 454; Rowan Simms 425; Catherine van Duzer 354t; Derek Buckland 123b; Roo Bramley and Chal Zon 159; Inga Buckland 535.

Matthew Parkinson offered thanks to all singers and those who helped set up the singing, especially the kitchen team, and made announcements to the class. Treasurer Chal Zon reported that expenses had been met. Harriet Monkhouse gave the Secretary’s report, announcing that eighty songs (including the closing song) had been led by forty-two leaders, and fifty-seven singers had registered from six countries (England, Scotland, Wales, Germany, USA and Canada).

Matthew Parkinson led 347 as the closing song. Sophie Phipson offered the closing prayer, and the class was dismissed.

Chairman—Matthew Parkinson; Vice Chairperson—Sophie Lockhart; Secretary—Harriet Monkhouse