The Role of Music at Central
At Central, music isn’t just accompaniment. The spiritual power of our choirs and historic pipe organ elevate and inform Worship every Sunday, helping inspire you to deeper faith. Our music program - under the direction of organist/choirmaster Patrick Aiken - is known and respected throughout New England. And, our irreplaceable Aeolian-Skinner organ - with 3,456 pipes - can only be described as majestic.
Patrick Aiken
Organist and Choirmaster
401-331-1960 x 222
mrpaiken@centralchurch.us
Central Congregational Church Choir
If you love to sing, there’s no better place to make “a joyful noise,” challenge yourself musically, and become part of a vibrant community of music lovers.
The Central Congregational Church Choir is comprised of approximately 30 adults: volunteers as well as professional section leaders. We sing at the 10:30 a.m. Sunday Worship service September through June. In addition, we present special services of music and concerts throughout the year.
The choir rehearses on Thursday evenings from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. and warms up on Sunday mornings at 9:15 a.m. prior to the Worship service.
The choir’s two CDs - “Thanks We Bring” and “Tidings of Comfort and Joy” - are on sale in the church office.
Children's Choir
While many choirs encourage children to sing, our Children’s Choir program - designed for third through eighth graders - also teaches them to read, understand, and enjoy music. Through careful preparation and training under the guidance of organist/choirmaster Patrick Aiken - plus opportunities to sing during Sunday Worship - children learn discipline and leadership while developing a strong commitment to their faith.
The Children’s Choir rehearses Mondays from 5 to 6 p.m. and warms up on Sunday mornings at 10 a.m. before the Worship service. All are welcome to join!
Aeolian-Skinner Organ
The breathtakingly beautiful sounds of Central’s pipe organ have resonated throughout our church and community since 1965. This instrument is a superb example of the "American Classic Organ," a concept developed by Aeolian-Skinner, one of America’s most important builders of pipe organs. It is, quite literally, irreplaceable.
Our organ contains four divisions, 58 ranks, and 3,456 pipes. The remarkable design mingles the colors and textures of both German and French organs from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries with twentieth-century voices to permit the performance of a wide body of organ literature. It was dedicated in honor and appreciation of the ministry of Arthur Howe Bradford, D.D., who served as our minister from 1918 to 1952.