The music departments of 27 cathedrals and churches in the UK will be supported to continue and expand their brilliant work, thanks to a £438,955 investment through our financial support programmes in 2026.
As the national charity dedicated to championing cathedral music, Cathedral Music Trust has spent seven decades investing in the people, places, and partnerships that enable this unique tradition to thrive. These awards continue that commitment, supporting projects that will benefit communities both in, and beyond the choir stalls.
The grants made through its Cathedral Music Support Programme (CMSP) and the Church Choir Award (CCA), will help cathedral music departments and parish church choirs deliver projects that nurture young musicians, invest in music staff, strengthen musical standards, and widen opportunities, enabling more people to experience the transformative benefits of choral and organ music.
At a time when many people feel increasingly disconnected, and as technology continues to reshape the way we live, work, and create, the value of making music together has never been greater. Cathedral music brings people together across generations and backgrounds through shared musical experiences. Yet many music departments continue to face significant financial pressures. These grants signal our continued commitment to secure a bright future for cathedrals and churches, helping them develop ambitious, sustainable programmes that invest in people and communities, strengthen musical excellence, and ensure that this remarkable tradition continues to flourish
Cathedral Music Support Programme (CMSP)
Now in its third year, the Cathedral Music Support Programme (CMSP) invests in projects aligned with Cathedral Music Trust’s strategic objectives, through three priority areas: Pathways to Music, Training and Development, and Supporting the Workforce. Together, these priorities create opportunities for more people to discover cathedral music. This year’s awards will support projects ranging from education and participation opportunities for children and young people to be inspired to sing, to creating new professional development pathways to strengthen the teams that sustain the tradition for the future.
“We could not be happier that we can now open up access to the Cathedral Choir via Lantern Voices, a choir for children in Years 1–5. Our choristers are the lifeblood of our community, and many families have become part of our congregations over the years.”
John Robinson, Director of Music, Blackburn Cathedral, grant recipient of £9,100
“This award will allow us to continue to offer professional Lay Clerk positions and pilot new development opportunities through the introduction of our Junior Lay Clerk roles. Combined, this will support Newcastle Cathedral to continue delivering high standards of musical excellence.”
Ian Roberts, Director of Music, Newcastle Cathedral, grant recipient of £28,700
“Birmingham Cathedral is hugely grateful to the Cathedral Music Trust for this generous award. It enables our Assistant Director of Music to accompany our choirs, train our choristers and create a pathway from school to choir for a diverse range of talented young people.”
David Hardie, Director of Music, Birmingham Cathedral, grant recipient of £22,650
CHURCH CHOIR AWARD (CCA)
The Church Choir Award supports parish church choirs to develop thriving music programmes within their local communities. Delivered in partnership with the Royal School of Church Music (RSCM), the awards recognise the important role parish church choirs play in nurturing singers, enriching worship, and introducing people of all ages to the lifelong benefits of choral music.
Alongside financial support from Cathedral Music Trust, award recipients will receive a package of tailored advice from the RSCM.
Dr Paul Hedley, Deputy Director at RSCM (Finance; Operations) commented on the awards:
“The RSCM is pleased to be continuing the partnership with the Cathedral Music Trust on the Church Choir Award, supporting musical development and ambitious projects in choirs across the land. We extend our congratulations to the award recipients and greatly look forward to supporting their work over the coming year.”
“This award will give our choristers added confidence, sound vocal technique and increased musical awareness. It is a magnificent investment in the music department, and its impact will be felt in recruitment, retention and morale.”
Revd Canon Shanthi Thompson, Kendal Parish Church, grant recipient of £4,000
“We are incredibly grateful to receive an award from Cathedral Music Trust. It will go a long way in helping us expand our choir and our reach in the community, while enhancing the experience our choristers receive as members of Halifax Minster Choir.”
Halifax Minster Choir, grant recipient of £3,700
“We are deeply grateful to the Cathedral Music Trust for this generous award to support our organ and choral scholars programme, providing invaluable assistance to our choirs, and underlining the importance of young people’s role in liturgical music.”
Director of Music, St Bede’s Clapham Park, grant recipient of £5,000
Cathedral Music Trust is grateful to the many individuals, charitable trusts and foundations whose generosity makes these awards possible, including the Edington Festival, whose support this year contributes towards the 2026/27 award made to Truro Cathedral’s project to deliver singing lessons.
Throughout December the Trust will be highlighting the people, choirs, and communities supported through these grants. Keep an eye on social media channels and website to discover their stories and the impact of this funding.
Wells Cathedral: 20 September, Sunday Evensong
Blackburn Cathedral: 20 September, Cathedral Eucharist
Great St Mary’s, Cambridge: 20 September, Evensong
Truro Cathedral: 20 September, Sunday morning service
Holy Trinity, Stratford-upon-Avon: 27 September, Choral Evensong
Wakefield Cathedral: 27 September, Evensong
Derby Cathedral, 27 September , Sunday morning service
St Giles’ Cathedral Edinburgh: 27 September, 11am Morning Worship
Beverley Minster: 4 October, 10.30am Harvest Festival Service
Halifax Minster: 4 October, International Choristers Day Eucharist
The Collegiate Church of St Mary, Warwick: 4 October, 10am Sunday morning service St Andrew’s Cathedral, Aberdeen: 4 October, Eucharist
Birmingham Cathedral: 4 October, Community Day Eucharist
Coventry Cathedral: 4 October, 4pm Festal Evensong
Leeds Cathedral: 4 October, 11am Mass
Nottingham Cathedral: 4 October, 11.15am Solemn Mass
St Mary’s in the Lace Market, Nottingham: 4 October, 10.45am Choral Eucharist
Ripon Cathedral: 10 October, Festal Evensong
Bradford Cathedral: 11 October, Evensong
Newcastle Cathedral: 11 October, Evensong
Holy Trinity Church, Kendal: 11 October, 9.30am Communion
Chelmsford Cathedral: 18 October, 3.30pm Evensong
Peterborough Cathedral: 15 November, Evensong
Llandaff Cathedral: 15 November, 4pm Evensong
Lancaster Priory: 22 November, 10am Eucharist
Holy Name Church, Manchester: 22 November, 11am Mass
St Bede’s Roman Catholic Church, Clapham Park: 13 December, 11am Mass
Discover our impact
St Giles’ Cathedral
Cathedral Music Support Programme
We are absolutely thrilled to have received this grant from the Cathedral Music Trust. This funding allows us to recruit five choral scholars, the first in history at St Giles’, as well as confidently introducing more choral services to our weekly schedule. We are so grateful for this opportunity.
– Jack Oades, Organist and Master of the Music
Photography by P Backhouse
Chelmsford Cathedral
Cathedral Music Support Programme
We are delighted and deeply grateful to CMT for this generous grant. Their support will help us grow and develop the Cathedral Choir, nurturing the highest standards of music and widening access to exceptional musical training. This award will play an important part in building a confident and well-supported choir.
– Emma Gibbins, Director of Music
Leeds Cathedral
Cathedral Music Support Programme
This grant, supporting our chorister singing lessons and choral scholarships, allows us to continue offering these opportunities to children from some of the most deprived parts of inner-city Leeds. It’s wonderful to have the musical life of the cathedral choirs (with some 150 members in total) supported by the CMT.
- Thomas Leech, Director of the Diocese of Leeds Music Schools Singing Programme
Holy Trinity Church, Kendal
Church Choir Award
This award will give our choristers added confidence, sound vocal technique and increased muical awareness. It is a magnificent investment in the music department and its impact will be felt in recruitment, retention and morale. On behalf of the Kendal Choristers I am hugely grateful to the Cathedral Music Trust.
– Revd Canon Shanthi Thompson
Halifax Minster
Church Choir Award
We are incredibly grateful to receive an award from CMT! It will go a long way for us to expand our choir and our reach in the community, along with enhancing the experience that our choristers receive when part of the Halifax Minster choir.
– Halifax Minster Choir
St Bede’s Clapham Park
Church Choir Award
We are deeply grateful to the Cathedral Music Trust for this generous award to support our organ and choral scholars programme, providing invaluable assistance to our choirs, and underlining the importance of young people’s role in liturgical music.
– Director of Music, St Bede’s Clapham Park
