Music at St Andrew's reflects the AngloCatholic tradition of the Parish. We use the New English Hymnal and sing the seasonal responses, together with acclamations and processionals. click here for the current Music Schedule THE CHOIR There has always been a Choir at St Andrew's. The Victorian tradition of a robed men and boys choir existed well into the twentieth-century; pictures from the seventies show the choirstalls still full, although by this time girls and women had naturally joined the ranks. There were some lean years in the past couple of decades but the choir was never allowed to fall into disrepair, and it is to the credit of people like Margaret and Don that the choir is in such good shape to this day! The Choir is made up of 20 committed singers - of course, we welcome any experienced choral singer to join us. The Choir sings each week for Mass at 10am and again at Choral Evensong at 6pm; rehearsals happen on Wednesdays, 6.30-7.45pm. The Choir takes part in the Deal Festival (performing such works as the 'Spätzen Mass' by Mozart in 2006, Fauré 'Messe Basse' in 2007, Schubert 'Mass in G' in 2008 and Haydn's 'Little Organ Mass' and Bach Vespers in 2009); they are very much part of the Parish, whether in Deal or Canterbury or St Omer. If you are interested in joining us, or simply want to find out more, please email the Director of Music or call 01304 381131. VACANCY There are currently vacancies for Alto and Tenor in the Choir...although if you are a Soprano or Bass do get in touch. Audio Clip (Plainsong Psalm) We are a regular venue for concerts in the Deal Festival of Music and the Arts and we are always interested in hosting recitals and concerts at other times of the year. We have an 1870 Blüthner Concert Grand Piano in church as well as the 1883 West Gallery Organ and an 1855 Chamber Organ by T C Lewis, details of which you will find on this page. For further information please email the Director of Music or call 01304 381131.

THE ORGANS The figure of Frederick H Browne will be unfamiliar to most but within the history of St Andrew's he plays an interesting part. Browne was born in Canterbury in 1849 and was apprenticed to a local organ builder and subsequently, according to company folklore, to the great TC Lewis of Brixton. Aged 22 he moved to Deal, set up an organ factory in the redundant Nelson Chapel and ran a piano shop & music lending library in the High Street (now Dixons - see photo). He lived with a large family and two servants above the shop that is now Superdrug. From these early days Browne, an Anglo-Catholic, seems to have been connected with St Andrew's, becoming successively sidesman then church-warden; he had all but one of his eleven children baptized here. The then Parochial Church Council commissioned FHB to build a new organ. Situated just yards from the factory this must surely have been his flagship instrument and I like to think that, on the strength of this instrument, organs up and down the county, as well as further afield, came to be commissioned. His company flourished in a late-Victorian church-building boom, but an unfortunate incident involving the contract for a cathedral organ for Canada cost the company dearly. They shut up shop in Deal and moved to Canterbury. Although no longer family owned, F H Browne & Sons Organ Builders still operates a highly successful Organ Building firm in the Old Cartwright School in Ash, just a few minutes north of Deal.

STOP PRESS! STOP PRESS! Phase One - Gallery Organ Casework - was completed early 2006 The Casework, considered to be of significant historic interest, was awarded a Historic Organs Certificate by the British Institute of Organ Studies. Phase Two - Chancel Organ - was completed in 2007 Phase Three - Gallery Organ Conservation - is well under way. At the time of writing the Great and Swell are back and are truly wonderful! The magnificent new Gallery Organ case was installed in early 2006 (see photographs). It is the work of renowned ecclesiastical architect Stephen Dykes Bower (1901-92), and originally designed for St Peter's, Limpsfield in 1963, just three years after he completed the organ cases at Westminster Abbey. We are immensely grateful to Roger Greensted of F H Browne & Sons for donating the case, along with the good folk of St Andrew's and to local businesses for their generous contributions to the Organ Fund. The new case represents Phase One of the restoration, and provided a real kick-start to our fundraising efforts. The 1855 Lewis Chancel Organ arrived early last summer. It is essentially the Choir Organ, but comes into its own for the accompaniment of plainsong and for leading Choral Evensong in the Chancel. This beautiful instrument, built for the Culpepper Family's Chapel in Wakehurst Place, was a gift to St Andrew's by Ardingly Congregational Chapel, where the organ stood for the past 40 years. We are extremely grateful to the Congregational Church.

ORGAN RESTORATION PROJECT As a result of Second World War bombing, the instrument was badly damaged. Fifteen stops were salvaged and placed behind an unattractive pipe-rack in the Sailors' Gallery at the west end of church. Although just about adequate for its main Sunday duties, after decades of constant use its electrics and other parts are failing and the instrument is becoming increasingly unreliable. A complete restoration of F H Browne's original specification and tonal aesthetic is planned, together with the installation of an early T C Lewis Chamber Organ in the Quire. When complete, we will be provided with two complementary liturgical instruments of national & local interest, capable of performing the whole repertory in services, for teaching, as well as for concerts and recitals. Current specification | Proposed specification (pdf) | Chancel Organ FUNDRAISING We are hugely grateful to individuals, local businesses, Dover District Council and to various national trusts (some who know us well and some not) for their faith in and generosity to this cause. At the time of writing (July 2009) we have raised over £50,000 of the total £60k budget. There is still a good bit of fund-raising still to do though and I am hoping that the music lovers connected with Deal and this delightful seaside parish will wish to put pens to their cheque books in support of this exciting development in the town's growing musical profile. If you feel moved to make a donation, do get in touch by phone on 01304 381131 or by email or by contacting fr Christopher in Church or at the Rectory. Failing that, please send a cheque (payable to 'St Andrew's PCC') to: SAPOR St Andrew's Church West Street Deal CT14 6DY Services at St Andrew's Home