Director of Music - Ian G.Coleman

My first experience of church music was as a boy treble in Jesus College Choir in my home town of  Cambridge. My studies, also in Cambridge, where I was organ-scholar at St Catharine's College, and later in London, at the Royal Academy of Music, were followed, somewhat oddly, by four years in the Society of Jesus, training for the priesthood.

However, I left the order, married my wife Antonia - a certain Father (as he then was) Michael Brockie officiating at our wedding - and resumed my involvement with Catholic liturgy as organist, singer and director.

I worked successively at St Ignatius, Stamford Hill, Brompton Oratory and my most recent post, St Anselm and St Caecilia in Holborn, and have also been active as a performer on piano and organ, and occasional composer, though not of the eminence of David Bevan, my illustrious predecessor.

The rather surprising twists and turns of my own life have now also led me towards formation for the Permanent Diaconate in the diocese of Westminster. Music and ministry do not obviously go together, and I would certainly want to steer clear of any confusion between the two vocations. However, this combination does seem to be the right one for me, and I pray that it will bear fruit - even though it may seem puzzling to some. I am very much looking forward to taking my place in the life of this great parish of Holy Redeemer and St Thomas More, and feel honoured to be able to take up this appointment.

Please contact the Director of Music via email if you would like to discuss music for a wedding or funeral: iangcoleman@yahoo.co.uk