A CHURCH Choir from South Woodford had a rather bigger audience than usual when it was given the job of singing choral evensong at Westminster Abbey.

The choir of St Mary’s in the High Road was asked to step in while the abbey’s own choir took its late summer break.

Bigger venues are nothing new to St Mary’s choir, however, and its performance at the abbey followed on the heels of a guest spot at Southwark Cathedral earlier this year.

Choirmaster Martin Seymour said “Offering such an experience to this extended group of singers was something very special indeed. Our choral scholars found it particularly thrilling, it’s not the sort of thing that most teenagers would think of doing.

“Singing in such a historic building was awe inspiring although we didn’t get the opportunity of rehearsing with the Abbey’s organist until half an hour before the service.”

St Mary’s offers choral scholarships to talented teenagers in the area and is a building a successful junior choir.

For more information about the choir go to stmaryswoodford.org.uk or phone the parish office on 8505 3000.