Parishes & Partnerships
We are working with a number of churches and cathedrals across the UK, helping them to plant Choir Church congregations, to create a choral culture in their schools, and to grow disciples among children and families who pray and work for social justice.
“Choir Church has adapted the English Choral Tradition to open a whole world of learning and spiritual growth for children and families who would otherwise never have encountered it. Hearts, minds, and voices have been opened to Jesus through this process.”
Tom Daggett, The Choir Church Foundation
Our Founding Parish - St George-in-the-East
St George’s is an Anglo-Catholic parish which was designated a Resource Church, working with the Gregory Centre for Church Multiplication. It is also home to the Centre for Theology and Community, which has helped to embed working for social justice in our DNA as a worshipping community. Community Organising and Choir Church have been part of the story of growth for this parish, which was otherwise in rapid congregational decline.
The founding Choir Church is in the parish of St George-in-the-East. The choir club meets each Wednesday after school and is open to children of all faiths and none. The choir sings a monthly Eucharist – usually in the school hall – which is open to parents, teachers, and the wider community. There are regular community meals, trips to sing in Cathedrals and Chapels, holiday clubs, social events, and the families have begun to engage in Sunday worship in addition to being part of the mid-week planted congregation. As the choir is principally for primary school pupils, a youth club has been set up on a Thursday night for those members now in secondary school, and throughout the year, these young people are invited to join us as leaders. The youth club also meets on Sunday morning between the family and main Masses. Membership of the parish choir by young people aged 12-15 has grown as a result. We have seen a significant increase in the baptism of children and adults through Choir Church.
Children have been actively involved in community organising campaigns led by the parish church in partnership with the school, Mosques and others. Actions have been around working age poverty, street safety, and housing conditions and provisions.
“Homilies at Choir Church have helped children, parents, carers and teachers to understand why and how following Jesus Christ involves praying and acting for justice - and the community organising approach is intentional about developing the agency and confidence of children and adults alike in this prayer and action.” The Revd Canon Dr Angus Ritchie
Partner Parishes
If you are interested in exploring Choir Church in your own context, please be in touch with us.
st james, milton & Portsmouth Cathedral
Choir Church Portsmouth is working to establish new Christian communities among local schools and the wider area, and has established connections with local charities and Portsmouth FC. Children are engaged in parish and cathedral worship, and the initiative is led by Alaistair Ross, together with David Price of Portsmouth Cathedral. https://www.portsmouthcathedral.org.uk/music
st matthew’s bethnal green
St Matthew’s have established Choir Church for children of different local schools, meeting on Thursday afternoons. The children sing for worship in various forms, including a monthly Choral Evensong, and are involved in the parish’s work for social justice.
holy trinity, dalston
Holy Moly was launched in 2019, in partnership with Holy Trinity CE Primary School, Dalston. The new congregations meets after school, drawing children, parents, and staff together with the wider community. Holy Moly has a strong Gospel music influence, and Holy Trinity Primary School is launching an initative with the Rodolfus Foundation that will see every class in the school having weekly choral music rehearsals. For more information, see https://www.trinitysaintsunited.co.uk/holy-moly
Holy Trinity Hereford & West Hereford Team
Lord Scudamore Academy and St Thomas Cantilupe CE School, along with helpers from Hereford Cathedral School held their inaugural Choir Church Evensong in July 2022, ahead of launching an ambitious plan for growth among the City with a federation of nine schools. The Reverend Ruth Hulse said ‘Choral music has a long tradition in this part of the world. It is a wonderful way to help introduce God’s message to a young audience and make it real to everyday life. Christians often tell me that their faith grew through singing in church or as part of a choir.’
st mary’s walthamstow
Choir Church launched in St Mary’s CE Primary School, during the pandemic. Each class has been learning songs online with Robyn, a Gospel Choir leader, and children have been thinking and praying about their communities, including the Attlee estate. https://www.stmaryswalthamstow.org/
worcester cathedral
Worcester Cathedral is re-launching its Voluntary Choir as a Choir Church congregation, meeting for worship on Sundays. It is recruiting girl and boy choristers from the local area, and will partner with local schools to support choral music, and to engage the children in social justice . The Voluntary Choir will build on its founding mission, to serve the city, cathedral, and local community through music made to the glory of God. Families and fellowship will be at the heart of its offering. https://www.worcestercathedral.co.uk/media/1704/press-release_worcester-cathedral-and-kings-worcester-chorister-offering-change_final.pdf
emerging partnerships
We are invovled in active conversations with churches in the Dioceses of Ely, Oxford, and York.
Diocese of Blackburn
An SDF project will establish up to 24 Choir Churches across Lancashire, in partnerhsip with Blackburn Cathedral, the Diocesan Board of Education, and the Diocesan Board of Finance. This collaborative initiative is a direct response to the Diocesan Strategy Vision 2026 and seeks to build on the strong musical tradition at Blackburn Cathedral and indeed across the Diocese.
The Choir Church initiative in the Diocese of Blackburn will include regular worship and will be formed following similar projects in east London parishes and schools, led by Tom Daggett of the Choir Church Foundation.
The Bishop of Burnley, Philip North said: “This is a fantastic initiative; we are delighted to be pioneering Choir Church in our Diocese on a scale never before attempted.
“With our Choir Church Project we aim to connect home, church and school in a fresh approach to outreach; providing opportunities in places where they may not be available otherwise.”
Innovation Funding is aimed at helping parishes explore new ways of sharing the Christian message alongside tried and tested approaches. Dioceses encouraged to apply for funding for projects lasting up to three years that could act as blueprints for future mission and growth across the country.
A full-time Choir Church Co-ordinator has been recruited. For more information, see here.