Great Sacred Music, a free lunchtime concert of church music for choirs and congregations, is a regular feature of the life at witness of St Martin-in-the-Fields. Once a month, a themed programme is offered which, in addition to the music, includes stories of how the music and hymns came to be written and some reflections on the theme. As well as a celebration of music, it has proved to be instrumental in the mission of St Martin's attracting many people to the church. Great Sacred Music offers 52 complete and ready-to-use choral music-themed programmes for occasional celebrations in local churches, or as an alternative to evensong. All the sheet music chosen is available from the RSCM, or recordings can be downloaded from YouTube for churches which do not have choirs. Scripts for introducing the theme and stories about the music are included. Choral music is one of the great treasures of the Anglican tradition. Great Sacred Music will support the missional work of the church in drawing in people who would not ordinarily attend a service, but who enjoy its rich musical heritage.
