Following the inclusive approach of the UNESCO Convention, the inventories seek to include traditions and ways of life that have not historically been well represented in official lists or processes and celebrate the ‘everyday’ culture of local communities.

Identifying what living heritage exists across the UK, so conversations can arise about what individuals value and how we as a nation can collectively safeguard it.

Inclusion in the inventories supports stewardship through raising awareness, increasing recognition and providing visibility. The process of submitting may also be beneficial for supporting collaboration and bringing communities together.

For full details see: Living Heritage UK

Cathedral Music Trust’s view:

English Sacred Choral Music as living heritage is not simply about music. It represents a body of shared knowledge, skill, language, and artistry from the training of choristers and organists to the compositional craft of sacred music, rituals such as Evensong and Mass, and the community it fosters. It also serves as an educational bridge for young people, developing musical and personal skills that resonate far beyond the choir stalls. The safeguarding of English Sacred Choral Music as an element of the UK’s intangible heritage would:

Acknowledge its cultural and educational value

Affirm its role in community life

Help secure support for its continuation in an age of shifting values and financial pressures

After consultation across a wide number of organisations representing multiple denominations and places, this title was agreed by the collective voice.

The phrase “English sacred choral music” was agreed as it clearly describes a choral tradition with a long, continuous history that can be traced from the medieval period to today.  

“Sacred” highlights that this music is closely tied to worship and religious life, while the term includes many different churches and communities, not just one denomination. It covers the whole living tradition from cathedrals and parish churches to choir schools, volunteers, professionals and the generations of people who continue to pass it on.

UNESCO recognition works by defining one tradition at a time. This submission focuses on the English sacred choral system, while other traditions are equally important and could be recognised separately.

This recognition is about describing a specific living tradition with a clear lineage, not about excluding or ranking other choral traditions. The rich sacred and community choirs of Wales, Scotland, and beyond, are distinct and valued in their own right. It includes the full ecology of practice of cathedral, collegiate and parish choirs, children, volunteers, and professionals. 

UNESCO recognition works by defining one tradition at a time. This submission focuses on English Sacred Choral Music, while other traditions are equally important and could be recognised separately. 

Several organisations are submitting nominations which capture different choral traditions, such as wassailing and Choral Societies and Cathedral Music Trust fully support these submissions.

To see the full ‘Expression of Interests’ ahead of submissions please see: Expression of Interest UNESCO

In order to submit to the inventory, the ‘Living Heritage’ should be recognised as such by the communities, groups or individuals that create, maintain and transmit it. Cathedral Music Trust have engaged in several discussions over a number of months with relevant organisations and will continue to do so ahead of the official submissions.

If you would like to be part of the discussions please contact us at: [email protected]

The first stage is already underway to submit an ‘Expression of Interest‘ which Cathedral Music Trust have actioned on behalf of several organisations it is currently working with.

See here for the submission: English Sacred Choral Music

This initial process ensures if a potential application is  similar in tone to another, an opportunity to collaborate on a submission may arise/be more advantageous. Connecting small groups with similar ones who are part of the same community of practice.

The deadline for all submissions to the inventory is Friday 27 March 2026.

The first inventories to be published will be around 4-6 months after the call for submissions closes (approx Aug-Sept time), depending on the number of submissions received.

The next stage following acceptance, will be to create an inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage in the UK.

The following stage of implementation will be the ongoing safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage in the UK.

See the Unesco website for further details of the process here: what happens next?

At this stage, we invite partners, including cathedrals, choral foundations, heritage organisations, and supporters of sacred music to:

Lend your name in support

Endorse the initiative publicly or within your networks to build public recognition, demonstrating the sector’s shared commitment to safeguarding this heritage. Register your name here to be added to a joint campaign letter.

Stay Informed and Raise awareness

Share the support campaign launching in the New Year via your own social media channels and local media partners. A press release and further information via Cathedral Music Trust will be issued in early January.