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Agapé

AGAPÉ - Singing For The Lord

Who is this singing group Agapé?

In the 1980’s a group of young people, encouraged by Bill and Gwynneth Indian, formed a Mission Band to visit Churches in the Chester-le-Street Circuit. Most  were choristers in the Church choir and so during visits they would sing a variety of religious songs. They were so happy singing together that in 1988 they asked Bob Watson, organist at Chester-le-Street, to direct them and to enlarge  the  variety of music sung to include religious and secular choral music.  Thus  Agapé  came into being. The name Agapé means love which is of and from God, and in every concert the meaning of the group’s name is explained.

 Agapé now has twelve singers , five being part of the original group, and concerts always include at least six specially arranged modern religious songs, together with  other music which includes extracts from popular musicals. A great help at concerts is Joan Evans, famous for her humorous recitations including ‘The Messiah’ and ‘The Sample’.

Each year concerts are given at venues all over the North East, this year at Crawcrook, Chester-le-Street with the NASUWT Riverside Band, Blucher, Ladies’ Forum, Denton Burn and Roker, and an annual concert at Chester-le-Street. The group have appeared on TV, on Radio Newcastle, and take part in Sunday morning worship.

The group does not aim to make any profit, but donations from concerts bring in sufficient funds to buy music any surplus going to Church funds and  to various charities; £5,950 being donated over the past nine years.  This year charities which will benefit include Grace House, Youth for Christ (North East) and Arthritis Research.

Agapé have just completed a recording of their third CD, ‘Sing To The Lord’, a compilation of twenty Christian songs and includes four of Joan’s poems. These are now on sale, price £6.50.

If you would like Agapé to perform at your church or for your organisation, please contact Chester-le-Street Methodist Church, Tel: 0191 3881313; there is no fixed charge, only a donation is requested.

December 2009  

Director: Bob Watson


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