OUR HERITAGE
Walk into the nave of St Albans Cathedral early on most weekday mornings and you will hear something which is unique and still precious in the church's long history the sound of well trained boys' voices singing some of the most beautiful music ever written.
Music has always had a special part to play at St Albans. Once England's senior Benedictine Monastery, the services here were chanted up to seven times a day by the monks. Since the abbey's elevation to cathedral status in 1877, the musical tradition has been continued by a choir of boys and men.
Today, St Albans Cathedral boasts one of the finest cathedral choirs in the country with an international reputation. This achievement is all the more remarkable because the choristers do not attend a special choir school, but come from a wide variety of backgrounds and attend a number of different schools in the district. They assemble at the cathedral on three weekday mornings to rehearse for an hour before going on to their schools. They return after school for more rehearsal and to sing Evensong. The 12 lay clerks (the men of the choir) join the boys at weekends and for special services. A two hour full practice each Friday evening is followed by Evensong on Saturday afternoons, and two or sometimes three services on Sundays.
We have recently extended the musical resources here by setting up a girls' choir which is now creating its own tradition within the pattern of our daily worship.Together, then, with the musical events and concerts sponsored by the cathedral and the fine reputation of the cathedral organs, which are the centre-piece of a biennial International Organ Festival, we have much of which to be proud.
THE CHALLENGE
All this, however, is achieved on a surprisingly low budget and there is an urgent need to plan now for a tougher financial climate if we are to secure the future of this centre of musical excellence. Unlike many of the ancient cathedrals, St Albans has no endowment to support its music. The salaries of the Master of Music and Assistant Master of Music, the costs of the choir and the upkeep of the cathedral organs all have to be found from income. Rising costs and falling income are presenting an increasingly alarming situation.
THE TRUST
The ST ALBANS CATHEDRAL MUSIC TRUST (Registered Charity No.1051072) has been established to support the Dean and Cathedral Council in their wish to preserve and enhance the centuries of choral worship here at the Cathedral of the first English martyr, St Alban. Our vision for the future is for:
- separate boys' and girls' cathedral choirs singing with the lay clerks as the central feature of a flourishing and financially secure musical life at the cathedral
- daily choral services in the cathedral
- regular concerts sponsored by the cathedral
- an instrumental music group which will play both in worship and for other events
- all the cathedral's musical resources to be available to others, especially to our diocese, for example through choral and organ workshops
To turn our vision into reality and to give music in the cathedral the secure future it deserves will require committed financial support. The Trust welcomes donations both large and small from all who value the contribution of choral worship.
FURTHER INFORMATION
If you would like further information about the work of the Trust or would like to make a donation, please contact the St Albans Cathedral Music Trust, The Deanery, Sumpter Yard, St Albans, Herts AL1 1BY (Tel: +44 (0) 1727 890228 ) email: music-trust@stalbanscathedral.org.uk