Choral Worship back at Hereford and Lincoln

Hereford and Lincoln cathedrals are the latest to reintroduce choral worship upholding a tradition that goes to the heart of our mission and ministry – thanks to the support of the Church Commissioners.

Tonight (Friday) will mark the first time the full choir of Lincoln Cathedral will return for Choral Evensong since our cathedrals were closed last March.

Choral Worship returns to Hereford and Lincoln Cathedrals

Lincoln has also announced it will be adding two weekday Evensongs every Tuesday and Friday to its weekly schedule along with its Sunday morning worship from next week.

Aric Prentice, Director of Music at Lincoln Cathedral said:

“We are so glad to be back in the Cathedral making music again. Despite such a long break from singing our adults and children are still sounding terrific and our rehearsals in the last fortnight have gone really well.”

In Hereford the whole of the cathedral choir sang its first service together last Thursday with new procedures in place to ensure social distancing measures, including some changes to the choir’s singing position and the boys singing in school uniform instead of robes!

Geraint Bowen, Director of Music, said:

‘It was a wonderful day for the cathedral when the choir returned to singing after nearly six months away – quite possibly the longest time without choral services since the 1650s – and they have all risen magnificently to the challenge of singing from their new socially-distanced positions in the choir stalls.’

Hereford’s Thursday’s Evensong has been made available as a webcast (click here to listen) .

The financial cost of the early return to full choral services has been made possible by discretionary grants from the Church Commissioners to support this tradition. Music is one of the foundations of worshipping life at our cathedrals and the tradition of choral excellence plays an important part in our ministry.

Please note – we may look a bit different and you may have to do things a bit differently, but every Church of England Cathedral which is able to re-open to the public has achieved the Visit Britain’s industry standard and consumer charter mark We’re Good to Go which means visitors can be confident that cathedrals are taking all the necessary steps to help ensure people’s safety in line with latest Government and Public Health guidance.

Please check ahead as service times and opening hours may have changed, you may have to book a ticketed slot at some cathedrals, face-coverings are now mandatory in places of worship unless you are exempt, and expect to be asked to supply contact details to support Track and Trace.