VABC Music Ministry

Vermont Avenue Baptist Church Church Chancel Choir Acting Directress: Sister Barbara M. Brown
Mission Statement The mission of the Church Chancel Choir is to sing anthems, spirituals, contemporary gospel and hymns for the worship service of the Vermont Avenue Baptist Church and to lift the name of Jesus in its highest praise. This also includes assisting the pastor when called upon to do so.	Choir History The Senior Choir of the Vermont Avenue Baptist church was organized in 1880. Later, in the 1930’s, Choir #1 and Choir #2 were organized by Reverend Chasteen T. Murray. In 1940, Choir #1 was renamed Church Choir. In 1964, the Chancel Choir was organized by Reverend Murray. The Church Choir sang on the second and fourth Sundays at the 10:40 am service and the Chancel Choir sang on the first Sunday at 10:40 am and the third Sunday at the 7:30 am service. In 1997, under the leadership of Reverend John R. Wheeler, the two choirs were combined and renamed the Church Chancel Choir. This choir sings on the first and second Sundays at 10:45 am and on the fourth Sunday at the 7:30 am service. The Church Chancel Choir has a repertoire of over 100 sacred anthems, hymns, spirituals, and contemporary gospel. We praise God as we share our talents in the church and community. Each Palm Sunday at 3:00 pm the choir has presented sacred Easter music such as “The Seven Last Words of Christ” and “Olivet to Calvary”; and on the third Sunday in December at 3:00 pm, “Excerpts of Handel’s Messiah”. Deacon Selwyn W. Clyburn who had served as Organist/Director and Minister of Music since 1966, retired as Minister of Music in February 2008. Sister Barbara M. Brown was appointed Acting Directress by our Pastor, Reverend Cornelius R. Wheeler.
Church Chancel Choir 2009 From left to right: Rhonda Oliver, Soprano; Geraldine Jones, Soprano; Tessie Taylor, Soprano; Jeanette Clyburn, Alto; Ruby Thornton, Soprano; Barbara M. Brown, Directress; Evelyn Higginbotham, Alto; Esther McLean, Alto; Elizabeth Beckwith, Soprano; Pamela G. Holland, Alto; Phyllis Winston, Soprano; Sheena Winston, Soprano; and Willie Robinson, Bass Not pictured: Charles Bates, Bass; Ruth Booth, Soprano; Bernice Steele Brown, Soprano; Henry Calhoun, Bass; Mildred Lawrence, Soprano; Barbara Looper, Alto; Florine McCollum, Soprano; Rosa Moore Bell, Soprano; Eloise Morgan, Soprano; James Pender, Tenor; C. Delores Scott, Soprano; Samuel Scott, Tenor Wilkin Walker, Soprano; and Clayton Wheeler, Bass

Vermont Avenue Baptist Church
Church Chancel Choir

Acting Directress: Sister Barbara M. Brown

Mission Statement

The mission of the Church Chancel Choir is to sing anthems, spirituals, contemporary gospel and hymns for the worship service of the Vermont Avenue Baptist Church and to lift the name of Jesus in its highest praise. This also includes assisting the pastor when called upon to do so.

Choir History

The Senior Choir of the Vermont Avenue Baptist church was organized in 1880. Later, in the 1930’s, Choir #1 and Choir #2 were organized by Reverend Chasteen T. Murray. In 1940, Choir #1 was renamed Church Choir. In 1964, the Chancel Choir was organized by Reverend Murray. The Church Choir sang on the second and fourth Sundays at the 10:40 am service and the Chancel Choir sang on the first Sunday at 10:40 am and the third Sunday at the 7:30 am service. In 1997, under the leadership of Reverend John R. Wheeler, the two choirs were combined and renamed the Church Chancel Choir. This choir sings on the first and second Sundays at 10:45 am and on the fourth Sunday at the 7:30 am service.

The Church Chancel Choir has a repertoire of over 100 sacred anthems, hymns, spirituals, and contemporary gospel. We praise God as we share our talents in the church and community. Each Palm Sunday at 3:00 pm the choir has presented sacred Easter music such as “The Seven Last Words of Christ” and “Olivet to Calvary”; and on the third Sunday in December at 3:00 pm, “Excerpts of Handel’s Messiah”.

Deacon Selwyn W. Clyburn who had served as Organist/Director and Minister of Music since 1966, retired as Minister of Music in February 2008. Sister Barbara M. Brown was appointed Acting Directress by our Pastor, Reverend Cornelius R. Wheeler.

Church Chancel Choir 2009

From left to right: Rhonda Oliver, Soprano; Geraldine Jones, Soprano; Tessie Taylor, Soprano; Jeanette Clyburn, Alto; Ruby Thornton, Soprano; Barbara M. Brown, Directress; Evelyn Higginbotham, Alto; Esther McLean, Alto; Elizabeth Beckwith, Soprano; Pamela G. Holland, Alto; Phyllis Winston, Soprano; Sheena Winston, Soprano; and Willie Robinson, Bass

Not pictured: Charles Bates, Bass; Ruth Booth, Soprano; Bernice Steele Brown, Soprano; Henry Calhoun, Bass; Mildred Lawrence, Soprano; Barbara Looper, Alto; Florine McCollum, Soprano; Rosa Moore Bell, Soprano; Eloise Morgan, Soprano; James Pender, Tenor; C. Delores Scott, Soprano; Samuel Scott, Tenor
Wilkin Walker, Soprano; and Clayton Wheeler, Bass