Singing is a vehicle for prayer. Since the earliest days of the Church, congregational song has been an essential element of the Christian worship experience. Our congregation sings old and new hymns, spiritual songs, and other music to enrich our common worship. While choirs and instruments play significant roles in worship, congregational song is central.
Idlewild Choir
Idlewild Choir supports and enhances congregational song. It also offers choral music to deepen the worship experience. The choir’s repertoire is drawn from a broad spectrum of the Church’s musical heritage, including Renaissance polyphony, psalms, spirituals, and folk songs, as well as modern compositions. A traditional Service of Nine Lessons and Carols is presented each Christmas Eve and other special services and concerts occur throughout the year.
Handbell Choir
Handbell ringers embellish worship every week with peals that call us to worship. They often enhance congregational song and choral music with their ringing.
Music for Children
Musical activities are part of children’s Sunday School each Sunday morning. Focus is aimed at helping children to participate more fully and meaningfully during worship. From time to time children will present a song or handbell peal as a part of the 11:00 worship service.
Sanctuary Organ
Primary among the organ’s roles is that of supporting congregational song while its colorful palette allows for an eclectic repertoire to be successfully presented.
The current sanctuary organ was installed in 1988 by the Bedient Pipe Organ Company. A detailed stop list of the instrument can be found online.
Carillon
Idlewild possesses the only carillon in Memphis – the largest musical instrument in the Mid-South. It is housed in an English gothic stone tower which rises majestically 120 feet above the church’s sanctuary. Its forty-eight bronze bells were cast at the Paccard-Fonderie de Cloches in Annecy, France. They range in weight from 29 to 4,397 pounds, totaling more than 26,890 pounds.
Can’t be here for worship? Join us Sundays Live at 11:00 on the radio (96.1 FM) or via Livestream.
Watch on the Livestream App (in the Livestream app, search for “Idlewild”) or click below.
