More than half of our English Cathedrals have received good funding news today with the announcement that The Cathedral Music Trust has awarded a total of £444,500 in grants to support 36 Anglican and Roman Catholic choral foundations across the UK.
Cathedrals celebrate Cathedral Music Trust awards grants
Twenty four Church of England cathedrals have been named as beneficiaries of these special revenue grants programme, set up in 2021 to help sustain cathedral, abbey and church choirs as they recover from the financial impact of lockdown.
The grants follow on from the £1 million raised and awarded in 2020 through the Cathedral Choirs’ Emergency Fund.
In both rounds of funding, demand for grants to support choral foundations was three times greater than the funds available and Peter Allwood, Chairman of the Cathedral Music Trust, said: “We are pleased that our 2021 grants programme is able to offer further support to an even wider range of choral foundations than before.
“However, we are keenly aware of the continued financial pressures many choirs are still experiencing. Cathedral music has nourished and sustained many of us during the past year, and we owe it to our musicians to do all that we can to keep this extraordinary heritage thriving, ‘ he added.
Bradford, Carlisle, Chester, Chichester , Derby, Durham, Exeter, Gloucester, Guildford, Cathedral Isle of Man, Leicester, Lichfield, Liverpool, Newcastle, Peterborough, Ripon, Rochester, St Eds, St Paul’s, Truro, Wakefield, Wells, Worcester and York Minster have all received revenue grants.
Robert Sharpe, Director of Music at York Minster said:
“A very significant proportion of the Minster’s income comes from visitors, so we suffered huge financial losses during the pandemic when the cathedral was forced to close. The Cathedral Music Trust’s revenue grant is a lifeline, enabling us to employ an Assistant Organist to enrich the music and worship of the Minster, and support our delivery of a world-class musical education for our young choristers.”
And the Dean of Liverpool, the Very Revd Sue Jones, said:
“Thanks to the Cathedral Music Trust’s support, we have been able to ensure long-term sustainability of our popular schools singing programme in the community. In Liverpool an average of 35.4% of school children are on free school meals.
Many of our probationers come to us through this programme, and with the help of this grant we can ensure opportunities remain open to all.”
The Cathedral Music Trust is a voice for cathedral music, it campaigns on behalf of cathedral music and musicians, supports cathedral choirs and choristers in need, and encourages the pursuit of excellence in choral and organ music.
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