Anglican choir to sing in Bangor> St. John’s Episcopal Church host to renowned Lincoln College group

BANGOR — From the steps of St. Peter’s Cathedral in Vatican City to national television in Cyprus and venues around the world, the Choir of Lincoln College at England’s Oxford University is one of the most renowned chapel choirs.

The singers’ upcoming trip to the United States will include a stop in Bangor to take part in Evensong in a parish well-known for its own musical accomplishments — St. John’s Episcopal Church, 225 French St., at 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 5.

“It should be absolutely spectacular,” said Dr. Fred Jones, music director of St. John’s. “They have excellent credentials. The BBC records them all the time.”

Choral Evensong is “basically the sung prayer” of the church, Jones said, and is a cherished part of church life.

The Anglican services of Evensong and Sunday Eucharist provide the regular appearances of the choir in the Lincoln College’s Chapel, built 1629-1631 in Oxford. The chapel’s enameled windows, ornate pews and fine statues impart the history of the Church of England.

St. John’s choirs have made trips of their own to Great Britain over the past decade, and will tour the country again next summer with performances at churches such as St. Paul’s Cathedral in London.

But the visit of Lincoln College’s choir to Bangor comes through a bit of serendipity. A representative of the college called the Maine Bureau of Tourism, and wound up conversing with the relative of a former chorister at St. John’s, a relative who knew St. John’s reputation for excellent music.

In addition to that reputation is the fact that the building on French Street is one of the best places in the state to present the Lincoln College Choir.

“St. John’s has the best acoustics of any Episcopal church in Maine,” Jones said.

As an Episcopal church, St. John’s belongs to a denomination that is part of the Anglican Communion, which includes the Church of England.

At Lincoln College, the choir sings Evensong according to the form of the 1662 Book of Common Prayer.

“Many consider it to be the Church of England’s most beautiful service, and a particular help to worship,” Chaplain Andrew Gregory said in a statement.

This summer’s tour of New England will include performances of both sacred and secular music at several places in the Boston area.

The chapel choir has issued several recordings, among them “Sing Praises Out,” “Magnificat,” and “Peace in Our Time.” Last Christmas the group worked as a chamber choir for BBC Radio 3, in a recording of Philip Wilby’s “Passion of Our Times.”

Later in the winter, the singers supplied the chorus for the world premiere of John Caldwell’s “Good Friday,” with that music now available on general release.

The touring choir from Lincoln College will comprise 30 members, including conductor Nicholas Chalmers and junior organ scholar Philip Smith.

Smith will be an assistant organ scholar at St. Paul’s Cathedral next year at the time of the visit by St. John’s choir.

No admission fee will be charged for the July 5 services, but donations will be accepted. For information, contact St. John’s Episcopal Church at 947-0156.