School Students Crowned BBC 'Congregation of the Year'

Students from Abbots Bromley School for Girls have been crowned the BBC Radio Stoke / Diocese of Lichfield 'Congregation of the Year' after impressing judges and the public in this year's Songs from the Aisles contest.

A special choir created by Staffordshire's Youth Service specifically for an event at Lichfield Cathedral won the junior category.

The Abbots Bromley School should have been entered in the junior category, but the judges involved in selecting the finalists decided the quality of their singing was so high they should be judged alongside the all-age congregations.

The winners were decided by votes split between a panel of judges and Radio Stoke's listeners. Lamont Howie, the weekend breakfast presenter at Radio Stoke hosted the Songs from the Aisles sing-off; and said: "Songs from the Aisles highlights the best of our regions congregational voices. BBC Radio Stoke receives so many positive comments about our regular broadcast church services that it's an absolute delight to hear the best competing for our annual prize.

"The talented choir from Abbots Bromley School shone brightly on the evening we recorded our Final, emphasising what the competition is about - to sing the praises of the Lord and to share that joy with a wider audience. Congratulations."

BBC Radio Stoke has broadcast a weekly act of worship on Sunday mornings ever since the station was launched in 1968. The service is recorded in churches, schools, military bases and even prisons in the Radio Stoke area.

Songs from the Aisles invites the four best congregations each year to a sing-off final at Stoke Minster - the winners being crowned Congregation of the Year.

In addition to Abbots Bromley School for Girls, this year's finalists were Ipstones Methodist Church from the Staffordshire Moorlands, and Berkswich Methodist Church and Rising Brook Baptist Church, both in Stafford.

Member of the judging panel Gavin Drake, the director of communications for the Diocese of Lichfield, which sponsors the competition, said: "Once again the standard of singing was excellent and it was very difficult for the judges to choose between the four finalists. But the quality of singing from Abbots Bromley's girls was extremely high and it is not surprise that they won. This justifies our decision to put them into the final rather than restrict them to the junior category."

Fellow judge, Lloyd Cooke, director of the Saltbox Centre in Stoke on Trent, commented: "What a privilege it was to help judge the competition and what a truly wonderful night of worship that the finalists put on together!"

Abbots Bromley School was founded by the Rev Nathaniel Woodard to provide education based on "sound principle and sound knowledge", firmly grounded in the Christian faith. The school's chapel is pivotal in school life and the girls have previously sung for BBC Radio Four's Daily Service and even at a Papal Mass in the Vatican. They will receive a crystal cross and a cheque for £500.

The school's director of music, Colin Walker, said: "Singing is at the very heart of so much of life at Abbots Bromley School for Girls both in chapel and beyond; it is very exciting that the commitment and enthusiasm of the girls has been recognised in this way. We are proud and honoured recipients of the Songs from the Aisles award for 2007."

The junior Congregation of the Year award went to a special choir established by Staffordshire Youth Service for a special event in Lichfield Cathedral. They too will receive a crystal cross and a cheque for £250.

Cllr Eric Drinkwater, the Cabinet Support member with responsibility for the Youth Service with Staffordshire County Council welcomed the award, saying: "The Youth Service is delighted that the youth Inspired event has received this prize. The young people who took part put in a great deal of hard work which was borne out by the performance.

"We knew that the standard was high, and this award shows just how talented and gifted those who took part are. We shall be asking the Youth Action Kouncil, which represents young people from across the county, how the money should be used."