Choir

Church Music at St Ann’s

Famed for its sympathetic acoustic, St Ann’s Church is often described as the St Martin–in–the–Fields of Dublin. A favorite place for musicians to perform and record, the church has also maintained a liturgical musical tradition over much of the three centuries of its existence.

Visiting Choirs are most welcome; please contact Charles Marshall at st.anns.music@gmail.com

1. The Church Choir
2. The Organ
3. Directors of Music

The Church Choir

The present choir of St Ann’s is a mixed ensemble of twelve professional singers. There is one sung service on Sunday mornings, alternating Eucharist and Matins, with the fifth Sunday of the month being traditional Matins. St Ann’s Choir also sings at occasional services in St Stephen’s Church (The Peppercanister), St Ann’s sister church. St Ann’s Choir is committed to maintaining a tradition of fine choral singing as a parish choir.

Originally the choir sang from the west gallery of the church, beside the organ; however, the re–ordering of the church in 1859 (reflecting the influence of the Oxford Movement) led to new choir stalls being erected at the east end, and it is likely that a robed choir was introduced at about this time. St Ann’s had a choir of men and boys until the 1990’s.

RTÉ broadcasts services regularly from St Ann’s, the most recent being a radio broadcast in February 2010. The Choir sang for the 2010 Christmas Eve Broadcast from the Peppercanister Church.

The Organ

The earliest reference to an organ at St Ann’s appeared in 1742. Two extracts from a 1743 newspaper tell of the purchase of the organ and the appointment of the organist. “Several of the Parishoners of St Anne’s Parish have by voluntary contributions purchased an Organ for the church… On Wednesday next the Judges will attend the Church at 12 o’clock, to determine who is the best performer of those who shall offer themselves as candidates.” (Dublin News Letter, 10 Sept. 1743) “On Wednesday came the election of Organist for the Parish of St Anne’s when Mr. Walsh performed and none opposing him, he was unanimously presented with the place. Mr. Dominick Gunan who set up the organ, has acquitted himself entirely to the satisfaction of the Parish”(Dublin News Letter, 17 Sept. 1743). Nothing remains of this original instrument.

In these early days of the church, the organ was housed in the top loft near the ceiling where the children are said to have “freezed and fidgeted”. This original organ loft is not to be confused with the present gallery and would have been a second storey within the building, reached by ascending a long, narrow staircase at the north or Molesworth Street side, while a further passage under the organ led to the south side of the gallery.

The present organ originates from an instrument designed and installed in 1834 by the Irish organ builder William Telford (1809–1885). In the years following it was rebuilt or renovated in 1871, 1874, 1876, 1896, 1907, 1911, 1917, 1925, 1943, 1964, 1970, 1975 and 2004. It is possible that some of the original pipework of 1834 remains, with additional pipework from Germany added during the latter half of the 19th century and further additions made in the 1970s. The current specification of the organ is listed here. In 1911, an electric blower was installed to replace a water engine, while in 1925 the action was converted to tubular pneumatic with a new console installed. In 1964, the organ was rebuilt and, in 1975, the now–electric console was moved to its present position in the chancel, reuniting organist and choir and allowing for easier musical coordination.

The wooden organ casing was described by Henry Willis III as being of “typical eighteenth–century style” and may indeed pre–date the Telford instrument of 1834. Its present appearance, overpainted in white and gold, dates from the 1960s.

Organists and Directors of Music

• Walsh (1743–?)
• John McCalley (c.1780–c.1790s)
• George William Torrance (1851–1854)
• William Houghton (?–1871)
• James C. Culwick (1871–1881)
• Arthur St. George Patton (1881–1892)
• Henry Gladney Gick (1892–1918)
• Sidney Lovett F.R.C.O. (1918–1919)
• Lennox Braid (1920–1934)
• William J. Watson F.R.C.O. (1935–1987)
• Mark Armstrong (1987–1989)
• David Smith (1990–1991)
• J. Paul Kermode (1991–1992)
• Graham Walsh (1992–1993)
• Hilary Dungan (1993–1995)
• Stanley Monkhouse (Organist & Director of Music, 1995–1999; Organist, 1999–2003)
• Manus O’Donnell (Director of Music, 1999–2002)
• Cecilia Madden (Director of Music, 2002–2004)
• Peter O’Connor (Organist, 2003–2004)
• Aiden Scanlon (Organist & Director of Music, 2004–2009)
• Charles Marshall (Organist & Director of Music, 2009– )