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 ©2016 Deborah Richardson

The Turvey Website The history and families of Turvey in Bedfordshire, England

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There has been music associated with the church as long as the building has been in existence.  The choir was founded in the early 1800's.

Turvey Church Church Tour

In 1862, Charles Longuet Higgins presented the church with its current organ.  He had been the Choirmaster and Organist for many years. He went on to form the Ely, Oxford and Peterborough Church Music Society - known as the EOP.  In 1862 the choir had 60 members, both male and female.

From 1862 until 1877 a great Choral Festival was held each July in Turvey Church. Participants came from the parishes around Turvey.  It must have sounded magnificent as Rev Munby records that up to 700 choristers and clergy attended each one!

The Choir Festivals were revived by the Rural Deanery of Felmersham in the early 1900's.

George Edward Hopkins was choirmaster until the mid 1920's.


He was also the Headmaster of the National School and the Superintendent of the Church Sunday School.  There is more about him on the School page!


He was followed by Joe Wooding who retired in the 1950's.


Next came Mr Reid who retired when he injured his hands.


He was succeeded by Mrs Enid Wadsworth in 1957.


From 2006 to 2008 the choir leader and organist was Paul Edwards (more about him at the bottom of the page).


The current choir leader and church organist is Tim Brewster (2015).


Traditionally the Choirmaster was also the Church organist!

Click the picture  above to see the document given to the choir mistress, Miss G White, when she married

2nd July 1924

Turvey Church Choir

Want to know more about Turvey Church Organ?

Members of Turvey Choir July 1924

Here is Turvey Choir in 1895.  


Click on the image to enlarge.

The Church Choir, looking very smart in 1934.  


Click on the image to enlarge.

Turvey choir poses outside the church door in the early 1950’s.


My aunt is in the front row and she sang with the choir for many years. I am told that my father also had the voice of an angel!


Click the image to enlarge

And here are the members of the choir in 1973.


Click on the image to enlarge.

The choir master and senior members of the choir in the 1950s.


Does anyone know if the choirmaster in this picture is Joe Wooding or Mr Reid?


Click on the image to enlarge.

Here is a link to an article on why Turvey Church Choir is interested in the music of the delightfully named Cuthbert H. Cronk.  This article was written by local boy, Paul Edwards in August 2007.  He was the organist of Turvey church from 2006 to 2008.  Edwards is a very successful modern composer with nearly 450 pieces to his name, including around 150 hymns.


A Cronk Pilgrimage by Paul Edwards

The longest serving member of Turvey Church Choir is Nancy Waters.


On Sunday 21st November 2011 she was presented with a medal from the Royal School of Music for her service to the choir - she had been singing it Turvey since 1942 - that is 68 years!