The Sunday Choir Group at St George’s Church is a crucial weekly gathering for many Jesmond residents, and provides opportunity for the regular goers to find their community through their love of singing.

From religious hymns to popular choir songs, the choir group offers participants the chance to reunite and come together within the community.

Though the choir practices remain in the church setting, it isn’t specially for religious people to join, church warden Janet Wilson told JesmondLocal.

The spirit of the choir group is rather “to strengthen the love of the musical culture which has been instilled within St George’s,” said Wilson.

The Guardian recently wrote that the pandemic brought Britain’s community together, adding that “social relations are key to public health”.

This same principle was applied during lockdown as St George’s Church carried on choir practice via online communication platforms. “This enabled members of the group to not lose their sense of community,” said Wilson.

One of the choir members told JesmondLocal: “I’m not the best singer but being part of the choir has brought me tremendous joy and has truly given me a sense of togetherness”.

Wilson said: “This is why our push for the community hub is so high on our list of priorities, It’s to ensure that residents have a place to gather and celebrate their love for whatever interests them”.

St George’s Church (Image Credit- Manon Sanchez)