When I was asked to write a piece using the words 'For Better For Worse' it brought back memories of my time spent as a choir boy at St John's, Toorak.
I found myself looking up the vows section of the Anglican marriage service on the internet. I quote:
“In the presence of God I take thee Name to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, so long as you both shall live…”
These vows would be well known to the Anglicans in our community and many others. I found them in 'The Marriage Ceremony: A Step By Step Guide' written by The Venerable Dr. Bradley Billings, current vicar of St John’s Anglican Church in Toorak.
I was a choir boy at St John’s for four years from 1952 to 1955 and was the Head Choirboy in 1954/55. During these years I was paid to sing. This money was granted on the understanding that it went towards my school fees. I attended Christ Church Grammar, the Anglican Church, situated an the west end of Toorak Road.
It was quite a commitment for a young boy to sing as a paid choirboy as it involved attending choir practice on Thursday evenings; attending two church services each Sunday (11 am & then Evensong at 7 pm) and on Saturdays a wedding or two. Scholarship holders also had to sing a solo occasionally to prove that we were worth our money.
The Choir Master, Mr. Welsford Smithers*, was at that time the Chair of Music and Melbourne University. To my young ears he could almost make the organ talk. Throughout the year he would undertake to perform a piece to reinforce the season of the church calendar – at Christmas this might be Handel’s Messiah, at Easter ‘Stainer’s Crucifixion’. All great stuff!
I found myself looking up the vows section of the Anglican marriage service on the internet. I quote:
“In the presence of God I take thee Name to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, so long as you both shall live…”
These vows would be well known to the Anglicans in our community and many others. I found them in 'The Marriage Ceremony: A Step By Step Guide' written by The Venerable Dr. Bradley Billings, current vicar of St John’s Anglican Church in Toorak.
I was a choir boy at St John’s for four years from 1952 to 1955 and was the Head Choirboy in 1954/55. During these years I was paid to sing. This money was granted on the understanding that it went towards my school fees. I attended Christ Church Grammar, the Anglican Church, situated an the west end of Toorak Road.
It was quite a commitment for a young boy to sing as a paid choirboy as it involved attending choir practice on Thursday evenings; attending two church services each Sunday (11 am & then Evensong at 7 pm) and on Saturdays a wedding or two. Scholarship holders also had to sing a solo occasionally to prove that we were worth our money.
The Choir Master, Mr. Welsford Smithers*, was at that time the Chair of Music and Melbourne University. To my young ears he could almost make the organ talk. Throughout the year he would undertake to perform a piece to reinforce the season of the church calendar – at Christmas this might be Handel’s Messiah, at Easter ‘Stainer’s Crucifixion’. All great stuff!
Then on Saturdays the choir would often be called on to sing at a wedding, or perhaps two. Choir boys were paid six shillings per wedding, in cash, in addition to the Scholarship money.
During the signing of the Register by the Bride and Groom we would sing a hymn; a Mozart piece; Handel's 'Entrance of the Queen of Sheba', or a piece by Purcell.
Little did I know in those days how important the wedding vows are and how binding they can be.
Although the Choir took up quite a bit of my time each week, it was enjoyable and the music was just fantastic. However after four years, my voice broke and I was no longer required in the front row of the Choir stalls. My father was not happy.
I have other memories of my time as a choir boy at St John’s. One which stands out is of St John’s most notable parishioner, Mr G J Coles, the Head of Vestry, driving his Rolls Royce to church on Sundays and parking it on the church grounds.
.
I also played cricket for St. John’s in the South Suburban Churches Cricket Association. We had made the finals and were on top of the world. My mother unfortunately died that week. I don’t think my father wanted me to play in respect to her death, but I managed to seek his approval and to hit the winning runs – a four off a square cut!
___________________________________
During the signing of the Register by the Bride and Groom we would sing a hymn; a Mozart piece; Handel's 'Entrance of the Queen of Sheba', or a piece by Purcell.
Little did I know in those days how important the wedding vows are and how binding they can be.
Although the Choir took up quite a bit of my time each week, it was enjoyable and the music was just fantastic. However after four years, my voice broke and I was no longer required in the front row of the Choir stalls. My father was not happy.
I have other memories of my time as a choir boy at St John’s. One which stands out is of St John’s most notable parishioner, Mr G J Coles, the Head of Vestry, driving his Rolls Royce to church on Sundays and parking it on the church grounds.
.
I also played cricket for St. John’s in the South Suburban Churches Cricket Association. We had made the finals and were on top of the world. My mother unfortunately died that week. I don’t think my father wanted me to play in respect to her death, but I managed to seek his approval and to hit the winning runs – a four off a square cut!
___________________________________
*An article from the Examiner (Launceston, 21 November 1936, concerning Welsford Smithers...
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