Choir Church in Worcester Cathedral
Nicholas Freestone introduces the latest congregation to emerge from Worcester Cathedral, and details exciting developments of a new Choir Church built around the historic Voluntary Choir.
April 2022
Worcester Cathedral Voluntary Choir was established in 1874 and has sung weekly at Sunday evening services in Worcester Cathedral ever since. The choir began a new chapter in September 2021, when it became affiliated with Choir Church, the first Choir Church community to be based within a cathedral. The Voluntary Choir is now open to boys and girls aged 8 to 13 and continues to sing at the 6.30pm service on Sundays during term-time.
The choristers meet weekly on Wednesday evenings. In these sessions, led by the choir’s director and a member of cathedral clergy, they sing together and rehearse music for upcoming services. They also reflect on the meaning of the texts sung and discuss themes raised in the pieces, alongside asking any questions that may arise. The Wednesday sessions are also a great opportunity for the choristers to enjoy each other’s company through non-musical activities.
There is a large emphasis placed on community within the Voluntary Choir and the Choir Church congregation, and this is shown through the pre-service refreshments each Sunday. The choristers, their families and other members of the congregation gather at the back of the cathedral to socialise together, in the company of the cathedral clergy, music and pastoral staff, before the service begins.
Most of the weekly services follow a bespoke Evening Worship format, containing two hymns and two anthems sung by the choir, alongside said responses, readings, prayers and a talk. Twice each term there is a service of the Eucharist, and there are opportunities for other special services at major festivals. The Voluntary Choir was part of the annual county farmers’ harvest service in October and sang at the opening of the Worcester Christmas Fayre in December. On Palm Sunday and Easter Day, there were Choir Church services that delivered the Holy Week and Easter narrative through anthems, hymns, readings and prayers.
In addition to the activities based at the cathedral, the cathedral music department is also embarking on partnerships with local primary schools, in which music staff run regular lunchtime choirs. It is hoped that the membership of Worcester Cathedral Voluntary Choir and the Choir Church congregation continues to grow over the coming months and years.