END OF AN ERA

After singing the gospel for 58 years the London Emmanuel Choir is to close at the end of this year.

The choir is probably best known for its stirring Carol Festivals held each year at Westminster Central Hall. So it is fitting that it plans to mark the closure with a special Thanksgiving Celebration at the Central Hall on Saturday, 13th December.

The LEC was formed in 1945 by Edwin and Muriel Shepherd to sing at the jubilee celebrations of the London Christian Endeavour movement, and was so successful that it carried on as the London Endeavour Choir. However, by 1953 its ministry had somewhat outgrown its links with Christian Endeavour, and so the name was changed - "Endeavour" became "Emmanuel".

Probably one of the best known Christian choirs in the UK, the LEC has carried the qospel message in song to churches, cathedrals, mission halls, town halls and prisons all over Britain and overseas. It has visited Guernsey, Jersey, the Isle of Man, Ireland, Romania, Bulgaria, Israel, Canada and the USA and has appeared on TV and radio on many occasions. Innumerable records, cassettes and CDs have been produced and sold over the years. The choir's prayer fellowship, which is its essential support structure, has always numbered many hundreds of people praying daily for the choir and its members.

One of Edwin Shepherd's most notable achievements was the Inauguration of the Festivals of Evangelical Choirs held every two or three years in London's Royal Albert Hall. On each occasion upwards of 40 choirs from all over the country have joined together in massed praise and worship. At its height the choir reached the giddy heights of some 1300 singers.

Very few choir members will forget that memorable night in December 1970, when Edwin Shepherd collapsed as he conducted the first of that year's Carol Festivals in the Central Hall. He went to be with his Lord a few days later, but Mrs Shepherd bravely took up the baton and carried on his work, both during that difficult Christmas period and for many years thereafter. It was in 1988 that she handed the baton on to Robin Littler, who has been the Musical Director from that time.

Now aged 94, she lives in a lovely Christian home in West Sussex. She retains the title of Choir President and hopes to be present at the final concert in December.

The decision to close the choir was a difficult one, but the Trustees felt that it was the right one, reflecting the way that God was leading them in different circumstances. The choir is getting older and the average age is now 62; the membership, at one time numbering 150, is steadily decreasing arid recruiting younger folk has proved to be difficult. In addition several key members of the music team have felt it right to retire or to move on to other ministries, and this in itself necessitated major change.

Robin Littler joined the tenor ranks of the choir in 1966 and since 1970 has worked closely with Mrs Shepherd as accompanist and musical assistant. Since taking over as Musical Director he has enjoyed the strong support of fellow musicians Bob Eagle and Alan Crosskey.

As he contemplates the end of the year Robin says,"We all feel very sad that the choir ministry will cease, but we feel sure that this is how God is leading us, and we must follow His will. I consider it is better to end on a strong and vibrant note, while our ministry is still effective and blessed, even if this does cause some surprise and sadness in our large choir family."

Other different ministries will develop out of the LEC closure. At least two groups are in a formative stage, operating in the east and west side of London, and it is hoped that other ventures will follow in due course. So the great tradition of good Christian singing, started so long ago by Edwin Shepherd, will remain in good hands.