Immanuel’s Ground – Warwick’s West Gallery Quire
The Quire performs sacred and secular music from the Georgian heyday of the rural parish church and chapel, and the Assembly Rooms of the time, together with exciting harmonies from New England.
Immanuel’s Ground Quire was formed in the Autumn of 2001 following an evensong to celebrate the bicentennial of Methodism in Warwick, and draws members from all over the Heart of England.
The Quire gives concerts, takes part in church services, weddings, other celebrations, together with carol concerts. Rehearsals take place at Northgate Methodist Church, Warwick on 2nd, 4th & 5th Wednesdays of each month and the quire is always on the lookout for new singers and players of suitable musical instruments. Although Immanuel’s Ground was born in and meets in a Methodist church the Quire has no religious affiliation and members of all faiths and none are welcome.
The name Immanuel’s Ground is taken from Isaac Watts ‘ Hymn XXX, Book 2
Come, we that love the Lord
And let our joys be known;
Join in a song, with sweet accord
And thus surround the throne.
The sorrows of the mind
Be banished from the place;
Religion never was designed
To make our pleasures less.
Let those refuse to sing
That never knew our God,
But children of the heavn’ly King
May speak their joys abroad.
The men of grace have found
Glory begun below;
Celestial fruits on earthly ground
From faith and hope may grow.
The hill of Zion yields
A thousand sacred sweets
Before we reach the heav’nly hill
Or walk the golden streets.
Then let our songs abound
And ev’ry tear be dry;
We’re marching through Immanuel’s ground
To fairer worlds on high.
Immanuel’s Ground is happy to share the music with local quires and community organisations by means of workshops and other participatory events, either on their own or as a prelude to a shared service or concert. Local social and historical material is included wherever possible in all presentations, musical, humorous and educational.