Join our choir
We welcome new singers of all ages and ability, so if you would like to come along, please join us at choir practice in Church from 7.00pm to 8.30pm on a Thursday evening. We sing on Sundays at St Oswald’s Church in Guiseley at the weekly 10.00am Sung Eucharist and twice monthly 6.00pm
Choral Evensong. On the 2nd Sunday of the month we also sing Choral Matins at 10.00am.
For more information contact Martin Baker, Director of Music.
About the choir
The choir of St Oswald’s currently consists of 21 members, comprising 1 girl and 20 adults (9 Sopranos, 6 Altos, 3 Tenors and 2 Basses). The choir sings at the weekly Sung Eucharist and twice monthly Choral Evensong. We also offer Choral Matins on the second Sunday of each month. Choir Practice is on a Thursday evening from 7.00-8.30 and anyone that might like to join us would be most welcome to come along and have a sing. The choir is a happy and friendly group of people who enjoy making music together.
The Choir has an excellent reputation in the Diocese and beyond. We have sung services in Bradford, St Albans, Derby and Wakefield Cathedrals. This is something that we are all extremely proud of. The experience we provide for our younger choristers is something they will remember for the rest of their lives. Many continue to sing in choirs when they leave us for university, some still return to St Oswald’s to sing when they are ‘home’ and several have even got married in our church.
A huge amount of work goes into the provision of music in our churches, and the choir is an integral part of our mission in the parish. Our repertoire of anthems etc stands at over 250 separate pieces and this continues to grow. Like many other things, what the congregation hears on a Sunday, or at a concert, is the culmination of many hours of planning, preparation and hard work.
In August, last year, the choir sang services in Wakefield Cathedral. We had a great time and were very well received by the Cathedral Staff and Congregation. It was great to be able to work with Grace once again who play most splendidly for us. We have been invited back to Wakefield again this year to sing services on 8th and 9th August, do come along and support us if you can.
The choir is always looking for new members in all parts. If you are interested, please get in touch or speak to someone after a service. We are a very friendly bunch!
Laus Deo
Martin Baker. (June, 2026)
Opportunities for Choristers
The Royal School of Church Music (RSCM) offers a training programme for choristers which is used by the Choir of St Oswald’s Church. This includes a Voice for Life training scheme which leads to the coloured Ribbons & medals to award singers on completion of each level – Light Blue, Dark Blue, Red and Yellow.
A parallel system of awards designed to be assessed through a formal examination is also run by the RSCM – these are called the Bronze, Silver & Gold awards. (In some local RSCM Areas the Bronze and Silver Awards are called Dean’s and Bishop’s Awards.) For more information see links below.
For further information please contact the Director of Music: Martin Baker, Tel: 07545 310503
Choral Evensong
“Prayer Book” Evensong is one of the most precious gifts that the Church of England has inherited from the work of the martyr Thomas Cranmer (Archbishop of Canterbury, 1533-1556). The poetry of the language has moved people for hundreds of years. Evensong is best appreciated when fully sung and the offering of music allowed to envelop the worshipper. We are thus given permission to worship in a way that stands in stark contrast to more modern forms, where “active participation” is of the essence. At Evensong, we participate fully, but in a different way!
Join us for Choral Evensong at St Oswald’s Church Guiseley at 6.00pm on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month (Please check website calendar as, occasionally there are amendments to services). If you are new to this service, there is a printed guide to follow the Order for Evening Prayer which will be helpful in finding your way around.
The Prayer Book may look complex but the aims of this service are simple; to learn about the God who loves us and to offer God our worship.
