Job Description for the Post Of s1

The Parish of Herne Hill The Parish Office, St Paul’s Church, Herne Hill, London, SE24 9LY. Tel (020) 7737 4978 Email: [email protected]

Job Description for the post of Organist / Director of Music at St Paul’s Church, Herne Hill SE24 Herne Hill is an increasingly affluent yet multi-cultural, socially mixed area of London between Brixton, Camberwell and Dulwich. St Paul’s is one of two churches in the parish, the other being St Saviour’s. The church was built in 1856 and can accommodate 280 people. There are about 100 regular worshippers, from all ages and backgrounds. Our Parish aim is “in God’s strength to bring Jesus to the centre of our lives and to the heart of our community”. Music is seen as having an important role in helping realise this aim. The style of services at St Paul’s covers a spectrum, from traditional services of Holy Communion to more informal all-age worship. This is reflected in and supported by a range of music, mainly provided by organ or piano and a small adult choir.

1. Purpose and Responsibility Congregational participation and the involvement of children are key to our vision of music in worship with the choir playing a leading role. Our strategic direction is to maintain a traditional church music base using the organ, hymns and anthems, combined with more modern music using piano and/or music groups. The task of the post is to organise the provision of music which facilitates and enriches the worship at St Paul’s within that context. This includes playing the organ and or piano, as well as directing and developing choir and music groups. It is expected that the Director of Music will contribute to on-going congregational growth through enabling high quality service music. It is hoped that this will be further supported by the organisation of occasional concerts and/or other social events. The Director of Music is expected to work closely with the clergy to select music for worship.

2. Organ and Piano The organ was built in 1914 by Norman and Beard. It has 3 manuals and 27 stops. It is regularly maintained, but it will soon need major renovation, which the church has started to plan for. We also benefit from the loan of a Broadwood grand piano which is housed in the Church, and is used frequently for services and concerts.

3. Choir and Orchestra St. Paul’s Choir has a long history and, as with many choirs, has waxed and waned. Currently there is a dedicated small group of regular adult singers with choir practices on Friday evenings and Sunday mornings. In the past we have had a children’s choir, which we would look to the Director of Music to revive. There are some instrumentalists of all ages and abilities within the congregation, and they have been used to provide the music for services on occasion. St Paul’s has an extensive library of anthems and service music, which is well organised and catalogued.

4. Services Sunday services are at 11.15 am according to the following general pattern: 1st Sunday Holy Communion 2nd Sunday Morning Worship 3rd Sunday Holy Communion 4th Sunday Worship Together (with a focus on children and families) In addition there are occasionally joint services with St Saviour’s (at either location). Children attend Children’s Church for part of all services except Worship Together. Annually there are evening Sunday services for the bereaved (on Remembrance Sunday), an Advent Carol Service, and a Christmas Carol Service (usually the Sunday before Christmas). Midweek services are currently held on Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. There is also an all-age Christingle in the afternoon on Christmas Eve. There are also a variable, but not large, number of weddings and funerals/ memorial services each year, for which fees are payable separately.

5. Tasks Tasks will include: . Playing and leading the music at services . Running weekly choir practices and other rehearsals as required . Developing the participation of the congregation, particularly children, in music worship . Agreeing music and hymns for services with the clergy . Overseeing the maintenance, including tuning, of the organ and piano . Maintaining the library of music

6. Skills and Attributes It is expected the person fulfilling the role will be: . a committed Christian, fully in sympathy with the Parish Aim . a qualified musician who has relevant experience in directing church music . enthusiastic about church music and able to excite others in participating in music . Able to communicate well with people of all ages

There will be a 6 month probationary period. Remuneration is based on RSCM rates and dependent on qualification and experience.

The Director of Music will report to the Vicar. The person appointed will also need to liaise with the Churchwardens and others who hold positions of responsibility. The person appointed will be subject to DBS check in accordance with the Parish’s Safeguarding Policy.