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1 There have been a good number of new hymns written for the Millennium. One, which is relevant to us all at this time, is that by Bishop Timothy Dudley-Smith “Here on the threshold of a new beginning……” which goes to a new tune, “Threshold”, by William Llewelln. Hymns will continue to be written as long as there are people to sing them and also organists and musicians to play them. The same goes for the URC Musicians’ Guild as we enter a new era. We, as a team of Church Musicians, continue to be at the disposal of every musician inside or outside the denomination to help and encourage the ministry of music in our churches and to build up and continue the tradition of singing in worship to the greater glory of God.

1.1 If you should ask an organist of a United Reformed Church in a remote village in deepest Devon or in the Dales of Yorkshire, if he or she knows about the Musicians’ Guild, the answer is more than likely to be “Never heard of it”! One might add that you will also find the same situation in some of our town and city churches. A case in question comes to mind when a village church was deciding on the future of its pipe organ; had they known of the existence of the Guild and of its Organ Advisory Service, then perhaps there would have been a different decision made relating to the future of an organ in that church.

1.2 This concern has been one of the main talking points at Committee level during the past year. Several ideas are now being discussed as to how we may inform the churches up and down the country of the Guild’s existence. A new poster is being prepared which should catch the eye of those receiving it; we can only hope that this will reach the eyes of any who provide music in churches.

1.3 The Guild is divided into branches roughly corresponding to the Synods of the URC. Regular meetings of these branches have again been held during the year visiting Cheveley, Billingham, Exmouth, Romsey, Headingley, Saltaire, Diss, Leicester, Howden-le-Wear, Minehead, Leek and Coventry. Each meeting consists of a programme of events covering choral music, organs of interest and more recently other instruments being used in worship; a workshop was held on this subject in Dorchester.

1.4.1 Our 1999 Celebration Day was held on 23rd October 1999 at Bloomsbury Baptist Church which had recently undergone a complete refurbishment. We were given a warm welcome and as is usual at these annual meetings members from all over the country renewed friendships and shared experiences.

1.4.2 Philip Luke, their enthusiastic organist, demonstrated the three-manual organ and led a choral session using material from various sources. There was also a choral concert given by “Bloomsbury’s Musicians” which included the first movement of Neruda’s trumpet concerto. The Assistant Minister Revd Barbara Stanford gave a short history of the Church. The retiring Chaplain of the Guild, Revd John Filsak conducted the final Act of Worship using material that had been rehearsed earlier.

1.5 Our 2000 Celebration Day is to be held at Carrs Lane Church Centre, Birmingham on 28th October 2000; we welcome all who have any kind of interest in music to come and join us in fellowship. The Honorary General Secretary will be pleased to send you details.

1.6 And so, as we enter this new Millennium, we will continue to pursue our aim to make the music of our worship more worthy and meaningful and for this we ask your prayers and support by encouraging others or Churches to join us or even by joining us yourself.

1.7 Membership of the Guild is £4 per annum - £10 for Corporate (Church) membership. Membership forms and other information including details of the Organ Advisory Service and Redundant Organ Register are available from the Honorary General Secretary - John L Harding, Rainbow’s End, 105 Humber Doucy Lane, Ipswich IP4 3NU (Tel: 01473 725075).