'Still Small Voice' with St Martin's Voices and Richard Carter

“Still small voices” is a meditative hour of choral music and spoken reflection centred around the timeless hymn Dear Lord and Father of Mankind. Rooted in the poetry of John Greenleaf Whittier, the hymn calls us away from noise, restlessness, and the fever of modern life, toward the quiet centre where divine presence is found, not in thunder or flame, but in the stillness of the soul.

Through luminous choral works—from the deep reverence of Herbert Howells and the aching simplicity of Arvo Pärt, to the contemplative clarity of contemporary British voices such as James MacMillan and Cecilia McDowall, this programme invites you into sacred silence. Interwoven readings explore the hymn’s themes: the longing for peace, the call to simplicity, and the gentle voice of God that speaks in quietness.

Revd Richard Carter is an Anglican priest serving as Associate Vicar for Mission at St Martin-in-the-Fields in London. Ordained in 1992, he has been a full-time priest at the church since 2006. In his role, he oversees the education programme, international links, and hospitality, and collaborates with The Connection at St Martin’s to lead services, events, and the Spirituality Group,

Before joining St Martin-in-the-Fields, Carter served as Chaplain to the Melanesian Brotherhood, a religious community working across the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and Papua New Guinea. His experiences there deeply influenced his spiritual perspective, particularly during a period of profound loss when seven members of the Brotherhood were killed.This event inspired his book, In Search of the Lost, which reflects on grief and resilience.

Carter is also the author of The City is My Monastery: A Contemporary Rule of Life, a work that offers a modern approach to spiritual practice amidst urban life. He leads the Nazareth Community at St Martin’s, a group dedicated to exploring spirituality in the context of everyday life .

St Martin’s Voices is one of the UK’s most versatile professional vocal ensembles. They sing for concerts and broadcasts at their home in London’s iconic St Martin-in-the-Fields and beyond, and regularly perform alongside ensembles including the Academy of St Martin in the Fields and the Piatti Quartet. They have toured to the USA and South Africa as well as undertaking extensive tours across the UK. The choir regularly features in broadcasts on BBC Radio 3 and BBC Radio 4 and has frequently given concerts on Classic FM alongside the broadcaster Zeb Soanes.

In 2023 they released their first album with Resonus Classics, A Winter Breviary, to critical acclaim, and their second album, featuring the choral works of American composer Ned Rorem, was released in March 2025, receiving a 5* review in BBC Music Magazine. St Martin’s Voices regularly commission and premiere new works, collaborating with composers including Bob Chilcott, Will Todd, Yshani Perinpanayagam, Rebecca Dale and Emily Hazrati. In 2023 they appointed their first Composer-in-Residence, Lucy Walker.