We get all these variants as people try to think of a rhyme for briar.
Here's a novel choice from the song 'Sweet William and Lady Margot.'

And it's bury them both in the quiet church yard,
where praying folk RETIRE,
and see how it grows out of her heart a rose
and out of his a briar.

I agree with the OP, choir is a silly choice, unless the church is in ruins.