There’s worrying news for all who care about the incomparable cultural phenomenon that is the singing of choral evensong in British cathedrals every day of the week. Canterbury cathedral announced in March that it’s cutting ties with its local independent choir school, St Edmund’s, ending a happy relationship that has lasted for 50 years. St Edmund’s was only informed about the end of the contract a few days before the public announcement.
If these small powerhouses of excellence are lost, the nation will be culturally the poorer for it
From now on, Canterbury’s choristers will be drawn from any and all local schools, and they will sing just three services each per week. A child will still be able to go to St Edmund’s and be a chorister, but the cathedral will no longer (after the current cohort leaves) stump up the money to subsidise the fees in return for the child’s five years of musical contribution.
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