Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

The 20th annual West Yorkshire All-Day Sacred Harp Singing was held once again in the parish centre of Holy Trinity Church, Rothwell. This was the first singing from the 2025 revision of the Sacred Harp. Richard Mayers began the day of singing by leading 102. Sophie Phipson offered the opening prayer.

Leaders: Chris Noren 487; Anne Foulkes 34b; Chris Coombs 72b; Lucy Atkinson 531; Werner Ullah 49t; Joy Spreadborough 127; James Harvey 219; Ann Thelwell 270; Jan Geerts 81b; Sophie Lockhart 426t; Hannah Land 50t; Phil Tyler 515; Sheila Girling Macadam 330b; Shoya Iitsuka 472; Jo Kay 323b; Vicki Elliott 366; Matthew Parkinson 213t.

RECESS

Chal Zon led 525 to bring the class back to order. Leaders: Tom Sprackland 449; Harriet Monkhouse 271t; Chris Noren 508; Sophie Phipson 27b; Edwin Macadam 444; John Sprackland 566; Joy Spreadborough 61; Chris Coombs 475.

A lesson was given by Matthew Parkinson, who led 129 for the following sick and housebound: Nadia Bolz-weber, Kate Fine, Cath Tyler, Adam Barnes, Seth Dickins. Also remembered were the following deceased: Chris Stadward, Peter Amidon, Emilia Adams, Joyce Blakey, Rob Mahoney, Constanze Denis, Olive Gibson, Bernard Collard, Steve Biggs, Neill Thompson, Ellen Bainbridge, Lynne Denman, Anita de Lotbinière, Mary Pateman, Martin Coll, Peter Dalby, Carolyn Ashford-Russell, Buell Cobb, Mike Hinton, Jean Barton, and Sue Goss.

Leaders: Anne Foulkes 68b; Werner Ullah 457; Ann Thelwell 223; Lucy Atkinson 29t; Shoya Iitsuka 282; Sheila Girling Macadam 115. Hilary Blake offered the blessing before the meal.

LUNCH

Chris Noren called the class to order by leading 32t. Leaders: Vicki Elliott 493; Phil Tyler 244; Sophie Lockhart 328; Tom Hallaren 324; Richard Mayers 264; Jo Kay 542; James Hartley 448t; Hannah Land 256; Jan Geerts 518; Edwin Macadam 550; Harriet Monkhouse 339; Tom Sprackland 80t; Chal Zon 153; Sophie Phipson 178t; John Sprackland 130; Matthew Parkinson 169; Anne Thelwell 547; James Roach 474.

RECESS

Tom Hallaren led 159 to bring the class to order. Leaders: Sheila Girling Macadam 367; Shoya Iitsuka 279; Richard Mayers 528; Anne Foulkes 503; Chris Coombs 112; Lucy Atkinson 198; Chal Zon 143; James Roche 556; James Harvey 215; Hannah Land 463; Edwin Macadam 189; Jan Geerts 454; Jo Kay and John Sprackland 506; Joy Spreadborough 535; Phil Tyler 477; Sophie Phipson and Sophie Lockhart 235; Tom Sprackland 544; Harriet Monkhouse 455.

Hilary Blake gave the secretaries’ report, stating that forty-two registered singers sang seventy-two songs, led by twenty-six leaders. Earlier in the day, Richard Mayers in his capacity as treasurer announced that the generosity of the previous year’s collection had also met the cost of this year’s singing with a further surplus of funds. This surplus will be put towards purchasing new copies of the 2025 revision for singers and singing groups who cannot afford their own. This had been the custom at this singing when it was in its previous home in Haworth. A further collection was taken for this effort; going forward any surplus of funds will be donated towards new books.

Richard Mayers closed the meeting by leading the song on page 267. John Sprackland offered the closing prayer, and the class was dismissed.

Chair—Richard Mayers; Secretaries—Hilary Blake and Jo Kay