ONE OF the leading members of Only Boys Aloud has been drafted in to help set up a new church choir in Dinas Powys.

Student James Bingham, a team captain with Only Boys Aloud, is to lead the new community choir planned for St Peter’s Church. The new choir is open to anyone interested in singing from high school age upwards, with the inaugural session being held during Eucharist on Sunday, November 2.

It is the brainchild of the vicar Andrew James who moved to the parish in the summer.

“We have got lovely choir stalls at St Peter’s but no choir," said the Revd Andrew James.

"I thought this seemed such a shame to have these fantastic facilities that weren’t being used so the obvious thing was to try and set up a choir."

He added: “It doesn’t matter whether you can read music, or if you are a church goer, anyone from high school age upwards is welcome to join the new choir. At the beginning of the Sunday service, James will lead the congregation in some singing and teach a hymn that can be used during the service.

“After the service has finished anyone interested in joining the choir will be asked to stay behind and meet the new choir master - it’s as simple as that.”

The new choirmaster James Bingham is a student at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, where he is studying for an MA in choral conducting. In addition to being a mentor for Only Boys Aloud, he conducts a choir in Penarth called the Cavatina Singers.

Andrew hopes that any new choir will be up and running in time to lead the singing of Christmas carols on their traditional carol service on the Sunday before Christmas.

“It will be quite a challenge to have the new choir up and running in time for Christmas but it’s good to have something to aim for.”

Anyone interested in joining the new community church choir at St Peter’s should simply turn up on November 2, at 10.30am.

First in line may well be Andrew’s labrador Coco, who has already become a popular fixture in church since the new vicar’s arrival.

“Coco comes to all my services and lies down at the front and is very well behaved. I’m sure he will enjoy listening to any new choir that is formed. I only hope that he doesn’t yawn during their singing as he does during some of my sermons!”

For more information, please call 01656 868865