Hereford Cathedral choir to make history at Vatican Mass

The choir of Hereford Cathedral will make history when they become only the second Anglican cathedral choir since the Reformation to sing at a Papal Mass.

Winchester Cathedral choir sang at the Papal Mass back in 2016. Now it is the turn of Hereford’s choir to do the same.

They will perform at St Peter’s Basilica alongside the choir of the Sistine Chapel at one of the Vatican’s biggest services when they join together to perform on St Peter’s Day at the end of June.

The choir has been invited as part of the Pope’s programme to encourage church diversity.

Geraint Bowen, Hereford cathedral’s Director of Music, has been invited to share the direction of the joint performances with the director of the Sistine Chapel Choir, Massimo Palombella.

Mr Bowen said:

“This invitation is a great honour for our choir and we are all hugely looking forward to such a wonderful opportunity.”

The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev Justin Welby said the invitation

“demonstrates the strengthening of relations between the two Churches“.

Find out more at the Hereford Cathedral website by clicking here.