Last June was a momentous occasion in St Paul’s choral history, when the first two girls, Lois and Lila, were formally admitted to the Cathedral Choir. On Sunday they were joined by a further three girls, who have also all successfully passed their probation to become full Choristers. For now, the girls are singing and training alongside the boys, but by the autumn of 2025 we expect to have a sufficient number of girls to fulfil our long-held ambition to form a separate girls’ choir alongside the boys.
This significant expansion of our Chorister programme will in due course enable St Paul’s to have more sung services and will create the busiest and biggest Cathedral music department in the world. For now, the girls are day pupils at the Cathedral School, whilst the new boarding accommodation is being built. To raise the requisite funds to build new chorister accommodation at the Cathedral School and to support the girls’ scholarship programme, we have launched a fundraising campaign and are most grateful for the enthusiastic support we have received for Girls’ Voices from many Livery Companies.
Over the summer, conservation work has been carried out on William Holman Hunt’s ‘The Light of the World.’The painting was previously located in the Middlesex Chapel in the Cathedral and was removed from display with a view to relocating it. The move provided an opportunity to review the artwork’s structure, the condition of the surface and the elaborate frame. In July and August, conservators worked to clean and consolidate the painting, carry out improvements to the frame’s appearance and ensure it can safely house new glazing. Visitors were able to observe the conservation in action through windows in the specially erected temporary hoarding and attend drop in talks given by the conservators. The work is now complete and in the coming weeks the painting will be re-hung in the South Aisle of the Nave.
With the start of a new academic year, our choral partnership programme resumes the weekly singing engagements with partner schools. This programme, which is led by Artistic Director, William Bruce, brings St Paul’s musical training expertise to primary school aged children in areas where they have little or no access to choral singing, providing a transformative experience for many children, instilling them with greater confidence, creativity and aspiration. The programme has grown over the past decade to now reach thousands of children in some of London’s most deprived boroughs, making a significant impact to the lives of the young participants. We are seeking further funding partnerships to support this work, so please do reach out if you are able to help.
Over the coming months, we have a full schedule of special services and events, the details of which can be viewed on our website at What’s on at St Paul’s | St Paul’s Cathedral (stpauls.co.uk)
When the Christmas season draws closer do visit these pages to find out more about the ticket and booking information for the carol services. St Paul’s Adult Learning Department run a very active series of events, lectures, workshops and talks which are open to all and free to attend. An upcoming one on Tuesday 8thOctober 6.30-8.30pm, is the launch of our Gen Z and the City report. This is the cumulation of a yearlong partnership with Cumberland Lodge, examining the values driving young people (18 to 25 years old) and their work practices, to further understand how this impacts on the corporate, social and creative sectors of the City of London. The event is open for booking on Eventbrite using the following link: https://gen-z.eventbrite.co.uk
A great way to enjoy a closer connection with the Cathedral is by becoming a Friend of St Paul’s. The Friends enjoy free unlimited visits, priority access to special performances, exclusive events and special discounts. The full benefits and joining instructions can be viewed at Become a Friend | St Paul’s Cathedral (stpauls.co.uk)
