Sacred music is an integral part of the liturgy. Such was affirmed by Pope Pius X in his Inter Sollicitudines issued motu proprio on 22 November 1903:

Sacred music, being a complementary part of the solemn liturgy, participates in the general scope of the liturgy, which is the glory of God and the sanctification and edification of the faithful. It contributes to the decorum and the splendor of the ecclesiastical ceremonies, and since its principal office is to clothe with suitable melody the liturgical text proposed for the understanding of the faithful, its proper aim is to add greater efficacy to the text, in order that through it the faithful may be the more easily moved to devotion and better disposed for the reception of the fruits of grace belonging to the celebration of the most holy mysteries.

In light of this it is easy to understand that the fullness of the liturgy or the normative liturgy of the Church resides in the sung or solemn Mass. This was stated explicitly in De Musica Sacra, issued by the Sacred Congregation of Rites on September 3, 1958:

The more noble form of the Eucharistic celebration is the solemn Mass because in it the solemnities of ceremonies, ministers, and sacred music all combine to express the magnificence of the divine mysteries, and to impress upon the minds of the faithful the devotion with which they should contemplate them. Therefore, we must strive that the faithful have the respect due to this form of worship by properly participating in it

It is desirable that on Sundays, and feast days the parish or principal Mass be a sung Mass.

Choirs at Lewisham.

It is in accordance with these principles that the liturgy at Lewisham is sung. As such it is easy to understand that the providing of suitable music for the liturgy is not a matter of mere aesthetics but a matter of the utmost importance. Given this, in order to provide the sacred music for the liturgy Lewisham is supplied by two choirs: the schola cantorum and the Choir of St Radagund.

In recent times Popes Pius X, Pius XI and Pius XII have made repeated calls to restore the schola cantorum. (Click Here for A Brief Overview of the Schola Cantorum). Pope Pius X in his Inter Sollicitudines, issued motu proprio on 22 November 1903, stated [at par. 27]:

Let care be taken to restore, at least in the principal churches, the ancient Scholae Cantorum, as has been done with excellent fruit in a great many places. It is not difficult for a zealous clergy to institute such Scholae even in smaller churches and country parishes - nay, in these last the pastors will find a very easy means of gathering around them both children and adults, to their own profit and the edification of the people.

These pontiffs have also asserted that laymen legitimately form the schola cantorum and in so doing should wear the proper liturgical choir dress: cassock and surplice. Thus, the schola is the principle choir at Lewisham and sings on all Sundays and major feasts. As the proper liturgical choir it is composed only of males and tries to include, as far as possible, both adults and children/youths.

The Choir of St Radagund is a mixed choir that sings on Thursdays and lesser days in the liturgical year.

The participation of the faithful in sacred music.

While these choirs are responsible for providing the sacred music for the liturgy this should not detract from the active participation of the people in singing those parts of the Mass which pertain to them. This is of great importance. Thus, it is said in Pope Pius XIs Apostolic Constitution Divini Cultus of 20 December 1928:

In order that the faithful may more actively participate in divine worship, let them be made once more to sing the Gregorian Chant, so far as it belongs to them to take part in it. It is most important that when the faithful assist at the sacred ceremonies, or when pious sodalities take part with the clergy in a procession, they should not be merely detached and silent spectators, but, filled with a deep sense of the beauty of the liturgy, they should sing alternately with the clergy or the choir, as it is prescribed. If this is done, then it will no longer happen that the people either make no answer at all to the public prayers - whether in the language of the liturgy or in the vernacular - or at best utter the responses in a low and subdued manner.

Similarly Pope Pius XII said in his encyclical Mediator Dei of 20 November 1947:

Besides, "so that the faithful take a more active part in divine worship, let Gregorian chant be restored to popular use in the parts proper to the people. Indeed it is very necessary that the faithful attend the sacred ceremonies not as if they were outsiders or mute onlookers, but let them fully appreciate the beauty of the liturgy and take part in the sacred ceremonies, alternating their voices with the priest and the choir, according to the prescribed norms. If, please God, this is done, it will not happen that the congregation hardly ever or only in a low murmur answer the prayers in Latin or in the vernacular." A congregation that is devoutly present at the sacrifice, in which our Saviour together with His children redeemed with His sacred blood sings the nuptial hymn of His immense love, cannot keep silent, for "song befits the lover" and, as the ancient saying has it, "he who sings well prays twice." Thus the Church militant, faithful as well as clergy, joins in the hymns of the Church triumphant and with the choirs of angels, and, all together, sing a wondrous and eternal hymn of praise to the most Holy Trinity in keeping with words of the preface, "with whom our voices, too, thou wouldst bid to be admitted."

The active participation of the faithful in singing the parts of the Mass and liturgy which pertain to them is actively fostered and encouraged at Lewisham.

Forms of sacred music at Lewisham.

The Second Vatican Council in its constitution on the liturgy, Sacrosanctum Concilium, stated that "The Church acknowledges Gregorian Chant as proper to the Roman liturgy: therefore, other things being equal, it should be given pride of place in liturgical services. But other kinds of sacred music, especially polyphony, are by no means excluded from liturgical celebrations, so long as they accord with the spirit of the liturgical action"

Two forms of sacred music are therefore recognised as being particularly related to the Roman liturgy: Gregorian Chant and polyphony, though the chant is to be given pride of place. (Click Here for A History of Gregorian Chant). Indeed Pope Pius X described Gregorian chant as "the supreme model of sacred music" and stated that "the sacred liturgy loses nothing of its solemnity when the chant alone is used." (Tra le sollicitudini, 22 November 1903, at pars. 223 & 225).

The foundation of the musical corpus at Lewisham is, therefore Gregorian chant. Polyphony is also used at times since "Classical polyphony accords very well with Gregorian Chant, that supreme model of all sacred music. Together with the chant, it deserves to be used in the more solemn functions of the Church" (Tra le sollicitudini, at par 225).