The Saint Martin Singers owe their origin to a few fire watchers at the church of St Martin-in-the-Fields during the Second World
War who made music together on the quieter nights. Their successors still meet regularly for rehearsal, now at the neighbouring church of St Giles-in-the-Fields.
The then Vicar of St Martin-in-the-Fields, the Reverend Eric Loveday, founded the choir in 1942. Following his untimely death in 1947, the Reverend (later Prebendary) W.D. Kennedy-Bell, a curate at the church who sang tenor in the group, became the conductor of the Saint Martin Singers and continued as their conductor for fifty years. He was the compiler of many of the distinctive programmes of music and readings still regularly performed by the group.
The Saint Martin Singers give, on average, 4-6 concerts a year in London and elsewhere in England, in aid of charitable or other worthwhile causes. They always pay their own expenses. In recent years they have supported more than 35 different charities and performed with more than 60 well-known actors.
The choir are deeply indebted to the professional readers, who in their generosity give of their time and artistry. Without them the programmes would not be possible.
KB retired in 1996 and handed over the conductorship to Matthew Hough, one of the tenors in the choir. Matthew handed over to Terry Hogan, another choir tenor, in 2006. Charles Talbot, our current conductor (who is a bass!), took over from Terry in 2012.
War who made music together on the quieter nights. Their successors still meet regularly for rehearsal, now at the neighbouring church of St Giles-in-the-Fields.
The then Vicar of St Martin-in-the-Fields, the Reverend Eric Loveday, founded the choir in 1942. Following his untimely death in 1947, the Reverend (later Prebendary) W.D. Kennedy-Bell, a curate at the church who sang tenor in the group, became the conductor of the Saint Martin Singers and continued as their conductor for fifty years. He was the compiler of many of the distinctive programmes of music and readings still regularly performed by the group.
The Saint Martin Singers give, on average, 4-6 concerts a year in London and elsewhere in England, in aid of charitable or other worthwhile causes. They always pay their own expenses. In recent years they have supported more than 35 different charities and performed with more than 60 well-known actors.
The choir are deeply indebted to the professional readers, who in their generosity give of their time and artistry. Without them the programmes would not be possible.
KB retired in 1996 and handed over the conductorship to Matthew Hough, one of the tenors in the choir. Matthew handed over to Terry Hogan, another choir tenor, in 2006. Charles Talbot, our current conductor (who is a bass!), took over from Terry in 2012.