Places Where They Sing

This study investigates the music of the Anglican Church in South Australia from 1836 to 2003. The title refers to the Book of Common Prayer Evening Prayer Service, 'In Quires and Places where they sing, here followeth the Anthem'. The migrants to South Australia had religious traditions which supported rich musical cultures and after the Wesleyan-Methodists and the Roman Catholics the Anglicans have had the third largest attendance at services.



An historical musicological method is adopted in this study, and interviews form a valuable primary source and link between past and present in the life of the church and the practice of music. The 120 interviews within provide insight into the liturgical and musical traditions of Anglican parish churches and of St Peter's Cathedral, complementing the study of documents and other printed sources.



This method of study produced an historical narrative of significant events, personalities and circumstances that contributed to the development of Anglican church music in South Australia. From this flowed a consideration of the inherited musical traditions from the English church, the liturgical framework, performance practices, and the development of a repertoire of church music particular to the needs of the Anglican community in South Australia. The changing character of music in the Anglican parishes is considered, and a principal objective is to assess how music has become an integral part of the worship.