Twelve English cathedrals have benefited from the latest grants awarded by the Cathedral Music Trust as part of its 70th anniversary year.
Cathedral Music Trust awards £438,955 to strengthen cathedral music
To mark this milestone, the Cathedral Music Trust has just announced awards of £438,955 through 27 grants to support cathedral and church music.
The grants made through its Cathedral Music Support Programme (CMSP) and the Church Choir Award (CCA), will help cathedral music departments and parish church choirs deliver projects that nurture young musicians, invest in music staff, strengthen musical standards, and widen opportunities, enabling more people to experience the transformative benefits of choral and organ music.
Jonathan Macdonald, Chair, Cathedral Music Trust, said,
“At a time when many people feel increasingly disconnected, and as technology continues to reshape the way we live, work, and create, the value of making music together has never been greater. Cathedral music brings people together across generations and backgrounds through shared musical experiences. Yet many music departments continue to face significant financial pressures. These grants signal our continued commitment to secure a bright future for cathedrals and churches, helping them develop ambitious, sustainable programmes that invest in people and communities, strengthen musical excellence, and ensure that this remarkable tradition continues to flourish.”
Now in its third year, the Cathedral Music Support Programme (CMSP) invests in projects aligned with Cathedral Music Trust’s strategic objectives, through three priority
areas: Pathways to Music, Training and Development, and Supporting the Workforce. Together, these priorities create opportunities for more people to discover cathedral music.
This year’s awards will support projects ranging from education and participation opportunities for children and young people to be inspired to sing, to creating new professional development pathways to strengthen the teams that sustain the tradition for the future.
Like Wakefield, which received a grant of £22,650 to help the Cathedral support its choristers, strengthen its choral provision and continue creating opportunities for children and young people to participate in the centuries-old tradition of cathedral music.
The Very Revd Dr Philip Hobday, Dean of Wakefield, said:
“Singing together not only contributes to sustaining a precious, living tradition of English sacred music and worship – it also helps build skills, confidence, friendships, and faith. We are so grateful to the Cathedral Music Trust for this wonderful award. Their generous support will make a real difference to the work we do with an increasingly diverse group of children and young people, generating creativity and aspiration in areas of notable deprivation. We are deeply grateful for the Trust’s confidence in our work and for our partnership in making cathedral music flourish for generations to come.”
And Blackburn, “We could not be happier that we can now open up access to the Cathedral Choir via Lantern Voices, a choir for children in Years 1–5. Our choristers are the lifeblood of our community, and many families have become part of our congregations over the years.” John Robinson, Director of Music, Blackburn Cathedral, grant recipient of £9,100
Newcastle, “This award will allow us to continue to offer professional Lay Clerk positions and pilot new development opportunities through the introduction of our Junior Lay Clerk roles. Combined, this will support Newcastle Cathedral to continue delivering high standards of musical excellence.” Ian Roberts, Director of Music, Newcastle Cathedral, grant recipient of £28,700
And Birmingham, “Birmingham Cathedral is hugely grateful to the Cathedral Music Trust for this generous award. It enables our Assistant Director of Music to accompany our choirs, train our choristers and create a pathway from school to choir for a diverse range of talented young people.” David Hardie, Director of Music, Birmingham Cathedral, grant recipient of £22,650
Throughout December, the Trust will be highlighting the people, choirs, and communities supported through these grants with a series of celebration services at each of the recipient cathedrals and parish churches.
Cathedral Music Trust has awarded £438,955 through 27 grants as part of its 2026 grant programmes. £410,000 from the CMSP and £28,955 from the CCA.
The cathedrals to receive awards are:
- Wells
- Wakefield
- Birmingham
- Blackburn Cathedral
- Truro Cathedral
- Coventry Cathedral
- Ripon Cathedral
- Bradford Cathedral
- Newcastle Cathedral
- Chelmsford Cathedral
- Derby Cathedral
- Peterborough Cathedral
- Llandaff Cathedral (from the Church in Wales)
You can find more detail about the awards here.
Cathedral Music Trust is an independent charity and the national advocate for cathedral music across the UK and Ireland with a vision that everyone deserves the opportunity to benefit from a high-quality, well-resourced and valued cathedral music community, regardless of background or circumstance. Through direct financial support, targeted programmes and sharing of expertise, its work ensures that musical excellence is supported and talent is never lost through lack of opportunity.
