Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

The 8th Goodshaw Sacred Harp Singing Day was held at Goodshaw Baptist Church, in the United Kingdom, on Saturday before the third Sunday in May. Chris Brown began the day by leading 47t. Jean Sidebottom welcomed singers back to the church, and offered the opening prayer.

Leaders: Chris Brown 46; Vicki Elliott 32b; Hannah Land 316; Karen Turner 30t; Ted Brown 32t; Steve Brett 317; Eva Striebeck 312b; Richard Mayers 67; Kate Coxon 135; Eimear O’Donovan 134; Margaret Gillanders 460; Pattie Wareh 99; Jan Geerts 540; Faiz Wareh 517; Margaret Bradshaw 101t; Benny Ross 501; Werner Ullah 49t; Cath Tyler 61; Myfanwy Reynolds 133; Cora Wareh 124; Lin James 76b; Derek Buckland 86; Tarik Wareh 485.

RECESS

Eimear O’Donovan called the class back together by leading 100. Leaders: Benny Ross 203; Judy Whiting 441; Liz Lawson 503; Richard Mayers 300; Pattie Wareh 183; Hannah Land 486; Karen Turner 89; Steve Brett 375; Eva Striebeck 411; Cora Wareh 335; Jan Geerts 351; Myfanwy Reynolds 117; Cath Tyler 270; Chris Brown 318; Margaret Gillanders 549; Faiz Wareh 458. John Copperwheat gave thanks for the noon day meal.

LUNCH

Vicki Elliott called the class back to order and led 82t. Leaders: Tarik Wareh 377; Lin James 29t; Margaret Bradshaw 421; Derek Buckland 28t; Kate Coxon 272; Werner Ullah 37b; Judy Whiting 150; Mike Upton and Benny Ross 455; Liz Lawson 66; Pattie Wareh 228; Ted Brown 208; Cath Tyler 153.

Karen Turner conducted the memorial lesson, and spoke for the following deceased: Chris Holloway—Germany; Don Grimshaw—Southampton; Ros Taylor—St John’s Chapel; Gordon Hoyland, Alex Elliott, and Thomas Briddock—Sheffield; Winifred Elliott—Bolton; Norman Johnson—Blaydon; Ruth Steggles—Nottingham; Kiyah Stephens—Leeds; Jean McDonald—Derby; Donald Gillis—Florida, USA; Charlie Derleth—Missouri, USA; B. M. Smith, Earlis McGraw, Johnny Lee, and Dolorese Lee—Georgia, USA; Gary Smith, Toney Smith, and Lavoy Smith—Alabama, USA; Jimmy Foreman and Tom Robinson—Texas, USA; April Selley—New York, USA; Janelle Davis—Illinois, USA.

She also spoke for the following sick and housebound: Curtis Owen, Edith Owen, Nate Green, Norma Green, Melanie Hauff, Dave Elliott, Betty James, David Elliott, Sister Pippa, Joyce Farrell, Concetta Branson, Hannah Mae Blair, Maggie Birley, Catherine Harkin, Toby Boyes, and Hugh McGraw. For them all, she led 155. Hannah Land said a prayer, and led 365. Jan Geerts led 171.

RECESS

Benny Ross called the class to order leading 350. Leaders: Mark Wardlaw 467; Cora Wareh and John Copperwheat 346; Eimear O’Donovan 176t; Kate Coxon 187; Werner Ullah and Derek Buckland 45t; Steve Brett 542; Margaret Gillanders and Ted Brown 77t; Eva Striebeck 521; Margaret Bradshaw, Karen Turner, and Jan Geerts 168; Vicki Elliot 268; Benny Ross, Lin James, Cath Tyler, and Mark Wardlaw 195; the extended Wareh family 269.

Chris Brown and Judy Whiting led 347 as the closing song. Richard Mayers offered the closing prayer, and the class was dismissed.

The majority of the singers then went to the newly repaired Old Chapel (1760), the oldest Baptist Chapel in use in the UK. Leaders: Richard Mayers 111b; Eva Striebeck 378b; Judy Whiting 344; Mark Wardlaw 287; Myfanwy Reynolds 313b; Derek Buckland 31t; Chris Brown 28b; Tarik Wareh 323t; Vicki Elliott 565; Hannah Land 234; Karen Turner 410t; Werner Ullah 278b; Eimear O’Donovan 390; Margaret Bradshaw 267. Chris Brown and Judy Whiting led 330b, and the class was dismissed.

Chairman—Chris Brown; Secretaries—Trish Bater and Liz Lawson