Portsmouth Cathedral Choir Welcomes Lifeline Funding

Portsmouth Cathedral is delighted to welcome a grant from the Cathedral Choirs’ Emergency Fund. The Fund brings together support from the Cathedral Music Trust, The Ouseley Church Music Trust, and the Choir School’s Association together with donations from thousands of members of the public. The grant to Portsmouth Cathedral will provide a lifeline to over 70 musicians across all three of our choirs, safeguarding our choral tradition and regular pattern of sung services until summer 2021.  

Dean Anthony comments “Choral music has been central to worship at Portsmouth Cathedral for generations. It is a vital part of our cathedral life and hugely appreciated by our congregation, including those who join us online. I am hugely grateful to the Cathedral Choirs’ Emergency Fund for their support which provides a much-needed financial lifeline to our choirs at the end of an extremely challenging year. As well as sustaining our choirs financially until summer 2021, the grant gives us time to increase our fundraising to meet the future needs of our choristers and choirs.”  

Dr David Price, Organist and Master of Choristers, adds “As we approach a Christmas like no other, music and singing will once again be at the heart of our worship and celebrations at Portsmouth Cathedral. This support from the Cathedral Choirs’ Emergency Fund is so welcome and will make a real difference to our ability to weather the storm of coronavirus and keep making transcendent and uplifting music day in, day out.” 

Portsmouth Cathedral’s choirs train 50 choristers a year from seven schools across the city. As part of our ‘Cathedral Sing!’ programme, we provide workshops and events for children and teachers in primary schools across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, reaching over 1,000 children last year.   

Portsmouth Cathedral is also grateful to the Church Commissioners for their support of the Cathedral’s lay clerks and choral scholars in autumn 2020, and to all the trusts and individuals who support our choirs. As we look to the future, we need to raise much more money each year to maintain our choirs, musicians, and choral tradition.  

If you can help, visit www.portsmouthcathedral.org.uk/support or email our Head of Fundraising and Events, Sophie Henstridge-Brown on sophie.henstridge-brown@portsmouthcathedral.org.uk.