Spine-tingling ‘Amazing Grace’ rings out through streets

14 May 2020, 17:01 | Updated: 28 May 2020, 11:44

A heavenly prayer rings out through the streets of West London. This is healing music…

Poignant footage has emerged of a spine-tingling ‘Amazing Grace’ being played out for residents near Charing Cross Hospital in Fulham.

The recording, sung in this version by American songwriter Judy Collins, was played out on a loudspeaker by vicar Pat Allerton – better known as the ‘portable priest’.

Allerton, a vicar at a Notting Hill church, played out the choral prayer during one of his mobile church services in April, despite admitting he risked breaching social distancing rules by doing so. The video (watch below) has been seen by more than five million people on Facebook.

Read more: The Sixteen choir give inspiring at-home performance of ‘Libera Nos’ >

“Heavenly happenings at Charing Cross Hospital London tonight as a choir sings out and can be heard in the surrounding streets,” the video owner wrote on Facebook. “Especially close to our hearts. It gave me goosebumps.”

It’s a reminder to all of us that we’re never alone with music.

Read more: Italian neighbours sing together across Siena streets lockdown >

Since the video went viral, a virtual choir project has been launched with the aim of getting singers from all around the world to join in on a massed charity performance of Collins’ rendition of ‘Amazing Grace’.

Featuring the world-famous The Sixteen choir, The Voices of Classic FM, the performance will be released as a single on 29 May to raise money for COVID-19 relief. Singers can send in their video and vocal submissions until 22 May – find out how here.