Vacancies

The congregation at St Nicholas values music very highly and enjoys a wide range of music and worship. We are looking for a director of music who will draw these strands together: to play the organ (and, occasionally the piano) and to prepare the choir and others for services. What is laid out below describes our current forms of worship and suggested role for a director of music. But since we expect our worship and its music to evolve over time, we would be willing to discuss and negotiate both aspects with any candidate who feels drawn to this post.

St Nicholas is the local parish church in Marston, on the edge of Oxford. We are a growing church and have a congregation of 60-70 each week. The liturgical tradition is inclusive with the Eucharist as our main act of worship at 10am, a monthly choral evensong service at 6pm, and special services for the main church festivals. We have monthly ‘Altogether’ acts of worship. The church is affiliated to the RSCM. Further details are on the church website: https://stnicholasmarston.org.uk

We have a small SATB choir which rehearses in term time midweek and sings in most of the 10am services. Our junior choir rehearses in term time and sings at main events in the church, such as the carols around the tree, but it has the potential to have more involvement in church services.

Our music group plays for the altogether service each month and includes instrumentalists and singers.

The pipe organ was rebuilt in 2002. It has two manuals (each C-c’’’’, 61 notes) and pedals (C-g’, 32 notes). The swell has 6 stops and the great has 5 stops, the pedals have four stops and couplers. It is regularly maintained and tuned by Edward Dove of Organ Design. The organ has been serviced and restored in 2025. There is also a Clavinova keyboard which is used for practices and the more informal services.

See our website (https://stnicholasmarston.org.uk) for the current pattern. We have Common Praise hymnbooks, but we are not limited by this. We would like the organist to play for five services per month plus special services at Christian festivals, including but not restricted to a nine lessons and carols service, Christmas, Easter, Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, Ascension Day and All Souls.

The director of music post is a permanent appointment with a probationary period of six months. The postholder would ideally be a Christian but should be in sympathy with the aims and ethos of the Church of England.  This is a part-time post. The postholder will be accountable to the vicar. The appointment will be subject to satisfactory DBS clearance.

The successful candidate will:

• Play the organ for all designated services or delegate playing the organ to another organist.
• Be supportive of and enthusiastic towards the mission of St Nicholas’ Church and the parish as a whole.
• Maintain a high standard in choral accompaniment, voluntaries, improvisation, and liturgical playing.
• Direct and rehearse the SATB Choir and take a lead in the recruitment of new members.
• Lead in the development of the junior choir
• Engage with and support the music group.
• Work with the vicar and clergy, and other singers and musicians to take a creative and active role in contributing to worship
• Attend safeguarding training.
• Choose hymns and anthems (in consultation with the vicar) for the morning and evening services and other festival occasions.
• Ensure compliance with copyright regulations and liaise with the parish administrator to prepare the annual CCLI return.
• Supervise the maintenance and upkeep of the organ, pianos, choir library and choir robes.

• A level of experience of playing the organ that is commensurate with career stage.
• A level of experience directing choral music that is commensurate with career stage.
• Capacity to inspire, organise, and lead singers of mixed abilities and ages.
• Sufficient keyboard skills to lead and accompany choir rehearsals.
• Communication and team working skills with people of different ages and abilities.
• Good administrative skills.
• Have the right to work in the UK.

It would be desirable for the applicant to have a Christian faith, as music at St Nicholas is primarily an act of worship

The postholder will receive:

• A salary of between £5000 and £6,000 p.a. – precise details to be discussed.
• A supportive team of people to work alongside
• Access to the piano and organ for personal practice, including organ and singing teaching as appropriate.
• 6 weeks paid holiday per year. The director of music has first refusal for weddings (£90), funerals (£90) and baptisms (£60).

To arrange an informal conversation about the post, please contact the vicar, Skye Denno: vicar@stnicholasmarston.org.uk

For applications, please submit a completed application form, covering letter, and the names and addresses of two referees, to reach us by 5pm on Wednesday 17th June 2026.

Click here to download the application form (Word format).

Click here to download the application form (PDF format).

Click here to download the job description.

Click here to download a copy of the job advert.

Applications should be emailed to administrator@stnicholasmarston.org.uk

Email applications only.

Interviews are expected to take place on Saturday 11th July – please inform us if this date will not be possible for you. We hope the successful postholder will be free to take up the post as soon as possible.

Thank you for your interest in this post.