Liturgy and Music

Andrew Maries is Consultant for Liturgy and Music in Exeter Diocese and is available to Deaneries, Mission Communities and Parishes to help and advise on the development, resourcing and expression of corporate worship. This service, which can include personal visits, is offered free of charge.

In collaboration with the Diocesan Liturgical Committee, two courses about worship and liturgy are available to parishes, mission communities and deaneries.

The more general course entitled ‘Exploring Worship’ has been designed to help leaders and congregations in Mission Communities deepen their understanding and practice of worship, consisting of four, two hour sessions covering:

The meaning of worship
The function of liturgy
Planning and preparing worship
Common Worship and other resources
Evaluating and developing the local experience of corporate worship
Worship and mission

A second more specific course to enable and equip lay people in their participation in the leadership of public worship is entitled 'Wings for Worship'.

This course, designed by Durham Diocesan Liturgical Committee, is one of a number currently being made available across the country to meet a growing need where clergy (or readers) are not available and/or wish to share the leadership of worship with lay people. It follows on from a Grove Booklet ‘How to share the leadership of worship’ (W199) by Trevor Lloyd (former Archdeacon of Barnstaple / member of the Liturgical Commission emeritus) and Anna De Lange until recently, a member of Durham DLC. The course does not lead to any authorisation or certificate for leading public worship, and participation is at the discretion of the incumbent. The course providers comment that 'experience in leading worship, with the help of Wings for Worship, may play a part in discovering a calling to further ministry'.

Download a draft version of the application leaflet

Download more detailed guidelines about the delivery of the course

Other training can also be arranged to address specific needs, either provided by Andrew or by others expert in their field. These include:

Leading public worship
Music in worship
Preparing intercessions
Technology in worship
All-age worship
Children in worship
Eucharistic worship
Using Common Worship creatively etc.

Other events which Andrew has facilitated or provided music for within the Diocese include the 1100th celebrations, Deanery worship events, Iona and Taizé worship, Big Sings and the biennial Music Day in the cathedral. He is chairman of the Devon RSCM committee and is also involved in the cathedral’s Nightchurch.
Contact Andrew Maries for further information on 01884 34389 or via email.

Training