The St. Augustine’s Chorale, an offspring of the St. Augustine’s Anglican Church in East End, is considered as Anguilla’s premier choir and orchestral ensemble. The Chorale celebrated twenty years of gospel music ministry with a heart-warming concert on Sunday evening, August 30th, under the theme “Thanks be to Our God”.
The grand event was a magnificent source of inspiration for the full capacity audience which packed the Church leaving standing room only for other patrons on the surrounding porches.
The Chorale was scheduled to observe its 20th anniversary through its usual grand Easter celebration in April past, but due to the ushering in of the COVID-19 pandemic, those plans had to be aborted. It is customary that seasonal cantatas are held during Easter and Christmas festivities.
The 2001 formation of the Chorale was the brainchild of Mrs. Margaret Augustus, affectionately known as “Nurse Margaret”. She is a longstanding member of St. Augustine’s Church, and through a statement in the 20th-anniversary commemorative booklet, Nurse Margaret expresses what began as her passionate vision:
“It is with a great sense of pride and humility that I extend sincere congratulations to the St. Augustine’s Chorale as we celebrate our twentieth anniversary.
“I can clearly recall the period when I had this vision of starting a singing group to uplift and spread the word of God in song at St. Augustine’s Church. I shared this vision with our young talented church organist, Mr. Lennox Vanterpool, and the church choir, who came on board thereafter. The seed was quickly planted, and our first Easter cantata, entitled “Lord of Lords”, was performed within six weeks of practice. Our journey from there forward is now history.”
Sister Margaret continues to say how the group has flourished through her prayers: “The success of the St. Augustine’s Chorale (now interdenominational) as a result of much fervent prayer, discussion, and reflection, with God as our chief cornerstone. He has blessed us over the years by reinforcing the personnel and technology to develop and expand our ministry, all to His glory.”
During Sunday’s concert, Nurse Margaret beautifully rendered Jenn Johnson’s touching, popular song, “The Goodness of God”, from the confinement of her wheelchair. She sang lustily and expressively in worship to God, her Father, and to the admiration and hilarious applause of the congregation.
Since its inception, Anguilla’s renowned music maestro, Mr. Lennox Vanterpool, has been the devout practice coach, musical arranger, and conductor of the Chorale. An extremely charismatic character, Bro Lennox is one who has a natural knack for unifying the Chorale and, in turn, the group is committed to his jovial style of directorship. He has often admonished the Chorale to be faithful in its service through song and to do all that it can for the glory and honor of God.
Following Sunday’s programme, Mr. Vanterpool told The Anguillian: “We give God thanks for allowing us these twenty years to minister in song and music. I am deeply grateful to have been asked by Sister Margaret Augustus to get involved from the beginning and to see the evolution of this initiative.
“God has truly blessed us with committed singers and musicians who fiercely guard their place in the St. Augustine’s Chorale.
The many and diverse contributors of time, talent, and other resources have ensured that our ministry has taken firm root in the Anguillian community. Recently, thanks to social media outreach, we have been also making an impact on the gospel of Christ beyond our shores.
“May we, and those whose lives we impact, never lose sight of the real privilege that is ours: to live for Christ who died for our sins and rose again for our justification. Truly it is good to give thanks and total praise to our God!”
Over the years, the Chorale has reproduced the works of such arrangers and composers as: Bradley Knight; Tom Fettke; Joseph Martin; Sue Smith, and Travis Cottrell. These gospel music personalities have seriously surrendered their talents as instruments of worship and Christian service through song. The St. Augustine’s Chorale embodies the same ideals.
These ideals are wrapped up in one writing of an anonymous author who has penned a remarkable quote of profound truth which conveys the purpose of St. Augustine’s Chorale. It has been adopted to reflect the Chorale’s passion for its ministry:
“When ministry becomes a performance, then the sanctuary becomes a theatre, the congregation becomes an audience, worship becomes entertainment, and man’s applause and approval become the measure of success. But when ministry is for the glory of God, His presence moves into the sanctuary, and even the unsaved visitor will fall down on his face, worship God, and confess that God is among us.”
Sunday’s concert was dedicated to the memory of one of St. Augustine’s Chorale’s founding stalwarts, Sister Audrey Rogers, who recently passed away. She was a devoted member of the church and the Chorale’s ministry.
The Anguillian heartily congratulates the St. Augustine’s Chorale for twenty tireless years of dedicated ministry in song.
– Staff Reporter, James R. Harrigan
