Historic choir sing out for Easter

Date published: 02 March 2010

Members of one of the Valley’s oldest choirs will be in fine voice on Palm Sunday.
Acre Mill Choir will be performing Because He Lives on 28 March at 8.00pm at the Stacksteads church off Hammond Avenue.

The choir has played an important part in the history of the church since it was first built in 1871. Then it started as a Sunday school but there are records of singers leading services accompanied by a harmonium.

When the church was remodelled in the 1890s a gallery for the singers was constructed at the front of the church and special pews either side of the congregation held the choir.
Choirmaster Peter Webb, who has played piano and guitar from being a boy and was in 1960s local gospel group The Messengers, is also organist and pianist for Acre Mill.
Their tradition for performing musicals began in the 1970s and led to them performing with choirs around the North West as part of the Choir for Mission England.

Musicals are traditionally performed at Easter, at the church anniversary in October and at Christmas and regularly attract audiences from across the Valley.

There are 25 regular members and anyone interested can attend the church on Thursdays at 8.15pm, call Peter on 870636 or email info@acremill.org.uk