The Director of Music

Our Director of Music is David Rance. David was educated at the Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe, and Durham University where he graduated with an honours degree in music. While still at school he took on his first organist’s post in a Methodist church at the age of fifteen. A year later he became choirmaster as well.

While at university David was organist and choirmaster at St. Mark’s Parish Church, Byker, Newcastle upon Tyne. He was musical director and producer of the University's Gilbert and Sullivan Society and was also responsible for the music in the first English stage performance of "L'Arlésienne" in 1960. (The cast for this included a young Jack Shepherd who is now well-known for his appearances on television as "Wycliffe".)

After graduation David became a secondary school music teacher, eventually becoming Head of Music at Kendrick Girls’ School, Reading, where he remained for fourteen years until his retirement.

David was able to fit in other musical activities from time to time. He has played for services in almost every Christian denomination and was latterly a peripatetic organist and/or choirmaster at churches where there has been a musical interregnum. He has also conducted various amateur choirs and orchestras and been musical director of amateur operatic societies. As if this is not enough he is also on the panel of examiners in music for the Edexcel examinations board, is duty organist three days a week at the Reading Crematorium, and composes anthems and organ music in whatever time is left.

David has many non-musical interests. His hobbies have included sound recording, printing, book-binding, photography, and computer programming (in C++!). He has a cottage in Normandy where he grows his own wine and cider. Sport? David likes to play tennis but unfortunately can’t find anyone bad enough to play with him!

A committed Christian for most of his life, David was at one time a Methodist Local Preacher and a Bible Class leader. He and his wife would often lead the prayers and read the lesson at Greyfriars Church in Reading until his appointment here at All Saints.

He is married to Ann, has five children (and seven grandchildren). His youngest daughter, Eleanor, was ordained in 1996 and is now a chaplain in the RAF.