Annual General Meeting 2025
SOCA members gathered on Saturday 15th November for a varied programme of events to complement the association’s Annual General Meeting. In addition to the ever-popular lunch, these included a workshop held at St John’s Church, Taunton, by the guest recitalist, Rosemary Field.
As Director of Music at Worksop Priory and former Deputy Director of the Royal School of Church Music, Rosemary has considerable experience in many aspects of music for worship. With her customary humour and attention to practicality, Rosemary distributed numerous hints and tips on matters as varied as the accompaniment of worship songs and how to recruit new singers to a choir. This was reflected in the participation of SOCA members alongside representatives from other local organisations, including Taunton Choral Society and the Ronald Tickner Trust.
The day was aptly rounded off with Rosemary’s recital on the formidable Willis organ of Taunton Minster. This featured the legendary “St Anne” fugue by Bach, several quirky preludes by Stanford and even a soaring improvisation on the popular hymn “Lord For The Years.”
Special thanks to Rosemary and to all SOCA members who helped to make this day such a great success.
Play The Organ Year In North Petherton
On Saturday 7th July, SOCA were delighted to support this event for Play The Organ Year 2025, held at the Minster Church of St Mary, North Petherton. Around 25 people attended, more than expected, with the result that the afternoon struck the perfect balance between listening, learning, and hands-on experience.
The event began with a rich musical journey through the history of the organ. This featured seven pieces, each showcasing a different era in the instrument’s development. Items included a work by Johann Ludwig Krebs (a pupil of J.S. Bach), an excerpt from César Franck’s Chorale No. 3 and William Mathias’ Fanfare. The Franck beautifully demonstrates the expressive power of diminuendo, using both the swell pedal and subtle changes in registration, characteristic of the Romantic period. The 20th Century Mathias, on the other hand, is rhythmically and harmonically bold, culminating in a chord on full organ which includes the Tuba and Clarion on sub and super octaves. Credit must be given to organist Andrew Hinkley, for demonstrating such a diverse range of styles and for bringing out the considerable potential of the Minster organ.
After this informative historical overview, a chance to play the instrument was granted alongside refreshments in what was a successfully fun and friendly atmosphere. Discussions have opened regarding a follow-up event later in the year.
Play The Organ Year In The Villages
SOCA took a walk on the wild side on 29th March 2025, with a double event held in the village churches of St Andrew’s, West Hatch, and St John’s, Hatch Beauchamp. This was in aid of Play The Organ Year 2025, as organists across the nation seek new ways to introduce myriad generations to the king of instruments.
The day began with a raucous sing-along of hymns and popular songs, ranging from Cockles and Mussels to Hey Jude and He Who Would Valiant Be. SOCA members joined with the local community in bolstering each other’s singing voices, aided by generous refreshments from the PCC.
The St Andrew’s pipe organ is a relatively fresh instrument with a nonetheless storied history. Beginners, experts and all were invited to experience this in the interval, with enough spare time to observe the partial eclipse from the cosy churchyard.
As accompaniment to the songs, the organ was supported no end by the voices and instruments of the Badger Street Band, based at the affiliated church of St Peter’s, Staple Fitzpaine. All who attended are indebted to their enthusiastic musicianship and support.
After a refreshing pub lunch, the action moved to St John’s Church, Hatch Beauchamp for a choral workshop run by the local Vixens’ choir. This was a more relaxed affair, involving questions and answers from SOCA members and the opportunity to learn two accessible choral pieces. These were suitable for worship, with even the ability to read music an optional extra. Gratitude must be expressed to the Vixens’ choir for sharing their expertise.
With percussion instruments to add to the timbre, attendees were left with no shortage of ideas of how to connect communities with church music. A successful and enjoyable day out for SOCA in the haven of rural Somerset.
Play The Organ Year in Bristol
On Saturday 8th March 2025, the organist for North Petherton, Peter Duce, attended an organ workshop in Bristol and has kindly shared the following report with SOCA. We hope that this presents a useful focus for discussion as churches and organists rally around this unique opportunity to introduce a new generation to this remarkable instrument.
Ray Willis R.I.P.
Members will have been sorry to hear of the recent death of Ray Willis. Ray was chairman of the SOCA Committee for several years and served in many capacities in the local area and farther afield, including as organist at St Cuthbert’s Wells, St John’s Yeovil, and the Bishop’s Palace Chapel. He was also known as a teacher with impressive knowledge of the technology and acoustics of organs, both traditional and electric. It was doubtless with this knowledge that he served with particular distinction as the Bath and Wells Diocesan Organ Adviser. The history of many a pipe organ has been touched or even saved by his guidance. We give thanks for Ray’s life and work and for his support for church music in Somerset. We send condolences to his family.
Dr Christopher Kent R.I.P.
Dr Christopher Kent had only very recently joined SOCA. He showed no sign of slowing down when he moved to South Petherton in 2024. Having written a book on the pipe organs in the area, he was quick to make contact with SOCA and was elected to the committee at the Annual General Meeting in November. The news of his death came as a great shock, interrupting what looked set to be a long and fruitful relationship with the organisation.
Dr Kent’s distinguished career included roles as an organist, harpsichordist and conductor in addition to an extensive academic output. From 1980 to 2002, he was senior lecturer in music at the University of Reading. From 1978 to 2006, he was an examiner for ABRSM, with innumerable young musicians passing through his care. In the New Year Honours list for 2024, he was awarded the British Empire Medal “for service to music and musicology.”
Perhaps one of Dr Kent’s defining achievements was as a founder member, and one-time director, of the British Institute of Organ Studies. His informative address at the AGM on the activities of BIOS will not soon be forgotten, nor his tireless work to preserve and trace the history of countless historic instruments.
Dr Kent’s passing is a loss to SOCA and to the entire institution of the British Pipe Organ. His impact will be felt for many years to come and he shall be greatly missed.
Members’ Outing To Stogursey Priory
Saturday 18th May 2024
Under a blazing afternoon sun, twenty SOCA members enjoyed an hour in the company of one of the most highly regarded pipe organs in Somerset. In the cool vastness of Stogursey Priory, organists enjoyed a chat while taking turns at putting this fine instrument through its paces, fresh from emergency maintenance earlier in the week.
After a welcoming introduction by Chris Moorsom, priest and occasional organist at the priory, SOCA members took to the organ with a repertoire that varied enormously. Choices ranged from a chorale prelude by J. S. Bach to a creative arrangement of a song by Phil Collins of Genesis, sparking some enlightening musical discussions.
A thoroughly enjoyable get-together ahead of the summer season of music festivals.
Beercrocombe Recital
Saturday 20th April 2024
International Organ Day 2024 took place on 20th April and was marked by numerous musical events across Somerset. Not all of these were confined to the larger towns.
In the remote village of Beercrocombe, a lively recital was held by SOCA member David Bidgood. This featured music from Bach, Franck and Vierne alongside popular songs from stage musicals and cinema. A friendly audience of 40 were sent off into a beautiful sunset, complete with refreshments.
An evening in which the little church returned to its role as a centre, not just for music, but for the whole community.
Women Composers’ Sunday
Sunday 10th March 2024
This year, Mothering Sunday became Women Composer’s Sunday, on which organists across Somerset added a little spin to their services in order to celebrate the contribution of women to church music.
At Taunton Minster, the 10am Communion service was bookended by John Bodiley, who played a Prelude and Fugue by the suffragette composer Dame Ethel Smyth. The Prelude was based on a penitential, Lenten chorale entitled O Traurigkeit, O Herzeleid, which translates as O Darkest Sorrow, O Heart’s Pain. The more complex Fugue recalled the style of Bach, telling of the composer’s year of training in Leipzig.
Similar events extended into the countryside. At Orchard Portman Church, a special Service of the Word was held for the occasion. This was preceded and followed with organ music by Rosalie Bonighton, June Nixon and Betty Roe, with words and music by female writers featured across a range of hymns. Each hymn was preceded by an introduction on the writer’s life story, which almost always involved remarkable achievements beyond their music. Helen Lemmell for Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus, Caroline Maria Noel for At The Name of Jesus and Fanny Crosby for Blessed Assurance were among the many names represented.
A true showcase of talents often overlooked in the world of church music.
Somerset Organists' & Choirs' Association (SOCA) 