Two York parish churches have launched a 'bank' of recorded hymns and songs, freely available to other churches to use in online worship.

A 'virtual' Music Group of members of St Chad's and St Clement's, neighbouring churches on York's South Bank, remotely records three hymns each week on video, with words, for Sunday worship on Zoom.

Using the 'BandLab' app, the group makes vocal and instrumental recordings of hymns and songs from the public domain (out of copyright); the online congregation is welcome to join the singing with devices suitably muted.

The bank of recordings can be found at http://stchadsyork.org/freemusic.

Rachel Shearer, who suggested using BandLab last year, says: “We have a stock of 20 videos of hymns and songs in the public domain (not subject to copyright rules). 6 more are planned for March. If your Church could use any of them, go to our web address for details. The songs have enabled worship to continue in people’s own homes and most of the congregation appear to sing along with enthusiasm!.

“If you really do like and use one or more of our videos, a small contribution to our appeal for step free access into both Churches would be nice but by no means an expectation.”

For more information: nicknightingale4@gmail.com.