Music

The Elm Ridge congregation encompasses a wide range of musical preferences, and consequently we enjoy a variety of musical styles in our worship. Hymns and songs are generally taken from "Hymns and Psalms" and "Complete Mission Praise" although other sources are also used.

The Elm Ridge Choir provides music principally at the 6 pm service, but also at 10.45 am on the first Sunday of the month. From time to time, the choir stages a concert featuring a major classical choral work. Extra singers are welcomed for these concerts.
The Choir rehearses on Friday evenings at 6.30. New members are welcome. Contact Margaret Candler (leader) or Sue Earle (contact details available from the church office)

The Elm Ridge Worship Group The Elm Ridge Worship Group (singers and instrumentalists) regularly provides music in a variety of styles for services and other events in church and further afield. Rehearsals are on Wednesday evenings at 6.15. New members are always welcome. Contact Elizabeth Sleightholme (leader) or Louise Macdougall (contact details available from the church office)

The Croft Organ The organ (click for current specification) was built in 1936 by Abbott and Smith, Organbuilders, Leeds. It was given to Elm Ridge Methodist Church by Duterau Croft of Blackwell, in memory of his late wife, Sarah Louise, and was dedicated on September 2nd 1936. The organ was rebuilt in 1986 by Vincent Organ Co., Sunderland, with new direct electric action and unit chests. This enabled expansion of the original specification of ten stops (by addition and extension) to fifteen in very limited available space. In 1998, a (very loud) trumpet stop replaced the Abbott and Smith Horn which had become unreliable. The zinc front pipes, originally unpainted, have been painted gold. The organ is maintained by Vincent Organ Co., Sunderland. Although an unremarkable instrument, it remains reliable and is effective in leading congregational singing and accompanying the Elm Ridge Choir. The organ is used at most services, and is played by a rota of organists from Elm Ridge.