Menu
Applications for this position are now closed.
May 16 2022
Overview of Position
Christ Church Deer Park
Christ Church Deer Park, situated at 1570 Yonge Street in the Yonge & St. Clair area of Toronto, is a beautiful and historic Anglican church. The Parish of Christ Church Deer Park is a diverse, warm, approachable and committed community with uplifting and inspiring liturgies that create an atmosphere of peace and provide for a genuine experience of worship and communion. Christ Church Deer Park has three regular liturgies each Sunday morning; a mid-week liturgy; a monthly Jazz Vespers service offered by professional jazz musicians; and a monthly Friday night Church on Tap, which is a contemporary and inclusive worship service. We also observe the rhythms of the Church’s calendar, with special attention given to Christmas and Easter.
The Worship Services at Christ Church Deer Park
Sunday 8:00 am Holy Communion – Sunday worship begins with a quiet said service of Holy Communion from the Book of Common Prayer celebrated by a small and committed group. The service includes a homily and it concludes with a hymn sung from Common Praise, which is accompanied by the Director of Music.
Sunday 9:15 am Holy Communion Contemporary Service – Sunday worship continues with a contemporary service of Holy Communion focused on families with children. The atmosphere is relaxed, and the music is focused around piano and guitar.
Sunday 10:30 am Choral Eucharist – each Sunday there is a full choral Eucharist which begins with an opening hymn as a vested altar party processes into the chancel behind the robed choir. The liturgy follows the Book of Alternative Services and draws on a mix of traditional and modern music, both congregational and choral. A typical Sunday Eucharist will have three congregational hymns (processional, offertory, recessional), congregational Gloria, Gospel acclamation, Sanctus and Benedictus and Lord’s Prayer. The Choir offers a harmonized responsorial psalm (with congregational refrain), an Agnus Dei, and an anthem.
Wednesday 7:30 am Eucharist – a number of people, some of whom are unable to attend on Sundays, like to begin their Wednesday with this quiet said Eucharist (following the Book of Alternative Services), celebrated in the side chapel. The service includes a short reflection or sermon by the presiding celebrant. There is no music component to this service.
Jazz Vespers – fourth Sunday of the month, September to June at 4:30 pm – taking place at Christ Church Deer Park for more than 20 years now, this is our best attended service, as it attracts people from both of our Sunday morning congregations, members of other churches, and others who would not necessarily affiliate themselves with any church or even any religion. Instrumental music is the principal focus, and it is offered by a number of high-quality professional jazz ensembles of varying size and instrumentation, which take “centre stage” in the chancel in front of the altar. Following jazz etiquette, the congregation acknowledges the end of every piece and every improvised solo with applause. The service is included in the official programme of the Toronto Jazz Festival.
Church on Tap – fourth Friday of the month 7 pm – a monthly contemporary and inclusive service followed by a social pub night, with free cold beer (and non-alcoholic alternatives) and snacks. Participants meet in the intimate setting of the Arthur Smith Room, the lounge adjacent to the parish hall. The basic outline of the liturgy follows the Book of Alternative Services, but the focus of this service is again musical: a live ensemble of vocalists and instrumentalists performs thought-provoking secular music that has been chosen to throw light on a sacred theme. This service has proven attractive to a wide variety of worshippers—two notable constituencies being seminary students and members of the LGBTQ community.
Music at Christ Church Deer Park
Christ Church Deer Park has a long and respected tradition of exceptional music that is woven into the fabric of our liturgical life and very much serves and inspires the worship experience. Christ Church Deer Park is both a singing congregation and a congregation of discerning listeners. Over the past few years, we have tried to provide a clear distinction between the types of music available at each liturgy and look to the Director of Music to weave different genres of music into the life of the Church.
For members of the choir, singing at Christ Church Deer Park is not just an enjoyable artistic activity, but an inward spiritual discipline and outward offering in service to the whole congregation. The choir is currently composed of about 10 volunteers and four or five professional section leads—Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone, and Bass. We do not presently have a choir for children, but the expectation is that the Director of Music will look for ways to involve children into the life of the Church, particularly at special times such as Christmas. Christ Church Deer Park regards music as something that can help build its community, so it is always looking for ways to integrate music and children, as both represent a gateway for new members to our Church.
Depending on the needs of the repertory, the Choir is accompanied either on our three-manual tracker organ (Karl Wilhelm, 1982) – one of only three trackers in Toronto – which is the visual centre of the chancel beyond the altar, or on a baby grand piano that sits in the middle of the chancel. Other instruments (flutes, trumpets, etc.) occasionally feature. The weekly organ postlude is awaited with anticipation, and acknowledged with applause and, sometimes, cheers.
The choir performs concerts throughout the year, both in the Church and occasionally, in other venues. Past years have also seen successful collaborations with the choirs of Timothy Eaton Memorial Church and Grace Church on-the-Hill.
The Importance of the Position of Director of Music
Other Specific Duties, Responsibilities and Attributes of the Director of Music
Specific Qualifications
Other Terms and Details
Submit your Application
If this position is of interest to you, please submit your resume and cover letter to Amanda Jagt, the Director of Parish Operations at Christ Church Deer Park at ajagt@christchurchdeerpark.org by June 24, 2022.
Inquiries about the position are also welcome. Please call Amanda Jagt, the Director of Parish Operations at Christ Church Deer Park (416-920-5211 ext. 22) and she will put you in contact with the Chair of the Search Committee for a new Director of Music at Christ Church Deer Park. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.
Christ Church Deer Park is part of
the Diocese of Toronto and
the Anglican Church of Canada.
All rights reserved.
Website lovingly built by Carlén Communications. Staff login
Our magnificent three manual, tracker-action organ was installed in the chancel of the church in the spring of 1982 and dedicated to the Glory of God and in memory of those who died in the First World War and the Second World War.
The organ, built by the Karl Wilhelm Company of Mont St. Hilaire, Quebec, has a classical continental design. The case is made of white oak and the pipe shades are of carved butternut. Voiced in the classic French style, its 36 stops and 50 ranks are capable of interpreting a wide variety of organ literature.
Installation required considerable changes to the chancel including moving the altar forward and arranging choir seating to either side. These renovations prompted the design and production of our award-winning Benedicite Kneelers, done in needlepoint by a dedicated group of church members.