Founded at the end of the last century, the Choir has been providing music for the services of the Parish Church for over a hundred years. The Choir is proud of its links with the Royal School of Church Music, whose founder, Sir Sydney Nicholson, was Organist at Barnet from 1897 to 1903. Today, the Boys and Gentlemen sing a large repertoire of music, from the Renaissance to the present day.

The Barnet Parish Church Choir needs more voices, so if you know any boys who can sing or are willing to learn please ask them to get in touch to find out more..

It takes time and dedication to produce the high standards required, but the choir also has a lot of fun with day trips, annual visits to cathedrals around the country and other treats.

HISTORY

In Saxon Times the site was part of an extensive wood called Southaw, belonging to the Abbey of St Albans. The name of the town appears in early deeds as Bergnet, the Saxon word Bergnet signifies a little hill, monticulus. Its elevated position is also indicated in its alternate name of High Barnet, which it bears in many old books and maps, and which the railway company restored. It is the belief of the older natives the "Barnet stands on the highest ground betwixt London and York." The town consists of a straggling street over a mile long, chiefly of small commonplace houses, with two or three shorter streets diverging from it. From its situation on the main road, as the center of an agricultural district, the seat of a county court and petty sessions, and having a barracks close at hand., Barnet is a busy-looking place, and has some good shops; one or two excellent inns, Red Lion and Old Salisbury Arms, and an undue proportion of public-houses; but on the whole it is a shabby and not a very picturesque appearance: it is, however, improving. In coaching days, 150 stage coaches passed through it daily. Since the opening of the railway, the town has increased considerably, especially on the west about the Common; or as it is now called, Arkley.
Barnet Church, St John the Baptist, which stands in what was the center of the town, was erected by John de la Moote, abbot of St Albans, about 1400, the architect being Beauchamp. It consists of a nave and aisles separated by clustered colons which support four pointed arches; a chancel with an east window of good Perpendicular tracery; a vestry, built in the reign of James I by Thomas Ravenscroft; and at the west end, a low, square embattled tower. The living of Barnet is a curacy, held with the rectory of East Barnet till the death of the late incumbent in 1866, when the livings were separated. The town also includes parts of the parishes of Monken Hadley and South Mimms.
St John the Baptist, Chipping Barnet
The church stands in what was the center of the town, was erected by John de la Moote, abbot of St Albans, about 1400, the architect being Beauchamp. It consists of a nave and aisles separated by clustered columns which support four pointed arches; a chancel with an east window of good Perpendicular tracery; a vestry, built in the reign of James I by Thomas Ravenscroft; and at the west end, a low, square embattled tower. The living of Barnet is a curacy, held with the rectory of East Barnet till the death of the late incumbent in 1866, when the livings were separated. The town also includes parts of the parishes of Monken Hadley and South Mimms. James Thorne, 1876
Records covering the period 1560 to 1938 are held at the Hertfordshire County Record Office, records for 1560 to 1885 are available in the I.G.I.

CONTACTS

The Organist & Choirmaster, tel.: 020 8440 8593. The Assistant Organist, tel.: 020 8969 3907

To find out more about the work of the choir, please e-mail us at:

barnetchurchchoir@yahoo.co.uk

The Website of Barnet Parish Church Choir is a member of:

The Treble Voices Ring