CATHEDRAL MUSIC TRUST AWARDS GRANTS TO 36 CHORAL FOUNDATIONS
13 May 2021
The Cathedral Music Trust today announced that it has awarded a total of £444,500 in grants to support 36 Anglican and Roman Catholic choral foundations across the UK.
The 2021 special revenue grants programme was set up to help sustain cathedral, abbey and church choirs as they seek to recover from the devastating financial impact of lockdown. This follows 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, demonstrating the continued urgent need for financial support.
Chairman of the Cathedral Music Trust, Peter Allwood, commented: “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.”
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.”
Dean Sue Jones at Liverpool Cathedral 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.”
Revd Canon Ian Rees, Rector at St Mary’s Church, Swansea said: “St Mary’s choral scholarship scheme in partnership with Swansea University attracts a high standard of singer. Cathedral Music Trust’s grant will help retain our choral scholars for the duration of their degrees, strengthening the cultural bond between the church, city, and university.”
The following choral foundations received revenue grants:
Arundel Cathedral
St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast
Bradford Cathedral
Brentwood Cathedral
Carlisle Cathedral
Chester Cathedral
Chichester Cathedral
Derby Cathedral
Durham Cathedral
Exeter Cathedral
Gloucester Cathedral
Guildford Cathedral
Hexham Abbey
Cathedral Isle of Man
Leeds Cathedral
Leeds Minster
Leicester Cathedral
Lichfield Cathedral
Liverpool Cathedral
Newcastle Cathedral
Peterborough Cathedral
Ripon Cathedral
Rochester Cathedral
St Edmundsbury
St Mary’s Church, Swansea
The Collegiate Church of St Mary, Warwick
St Paul’s Cathedral
Tewkesbury Abbey
Truro Cathedral
Wakefield Cathedral
Wells Cathedral
Worcester Cathedral
York Minster