Chester-le-Street Methodist Church

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. Recently we have been to Lemington, sung for Chester-le Street Rotary following their Christmas meal, given a Christmas concert at Chester-le-Street, a Holy Week reflection at Carville Methodist Church and joined with Shiney Row Male Voice Choir at a concert in Great Lumley as well as an annual concert at Chester-le-Street. The group have appeared on TV, on Radio Newcastle, and also sometimes sing in 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. We meet on the 2^nd and 4^th Sundays in the month between 7.30 and 8.30pm.

Agapé’s latest recording of their third CD, ‘Sing To The Lord’, is a compilation of twenty Christian songs and includes four of Joan’s poems, 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.

May 2011

Director: Bob Watson