Sheffield Cathedral is closing down its choir – this is why

The Anglican cathedral in the city centre wants to set up new singing ensembles which leaders say will be more appropriate for Sheffield’s ‘mixed urban community’.

Several lay clerks – paid adult members of the current 40-strong choir – face redundancy following the move by the cathedral’s dean and governing chapter. Letters have been sent to parents of children in the group, and choral scholars from Sheffield University were also informed earlier this week.

The Rev Canon Keith Farrow, the cathedral’s vice dean and canon missioner, said the coronavirus crisis was not a factor.

“This is not a Covid decision, and it's not a financial decision,” he said. “But clearly the Covid situation focuses one's mind on the core things we are about. The chapter was unanimous that we needed a new start where we could look at a choir and a music department that would reach even more people.”

The choir, which normally performs at services such as evensong and Sung Eucharist on Sundays, last met before lockdown was imposed in March.

"There's been no church music live in the cathedral since that time,” said Rev Canon Farrow.

“It could be several months before we're allowed to even sing in a service. We've only been open for three weeks for Sunday morning worship. We have an organist who plays before and during the service, but there's no congregational singing allowed at all. We know it will return but it'll take some time."

In recent years a review has been taking place encompassing ‘all areas of the cathedral’, he said.

“In 2019 we led a review of the music department, and even then at that stage the review said one of the options is to have a fresh start, close it and start again. We didn't take that option up, we carried on, but as we reflected we felt now is the right time to begin to think about what the future looks like.”

He added: “We fully expected people to have a sense of grief, because people are passionate about music. Sheffield Cathedral has got a very strong heritage of music and we knew people would feel shocked by the news. We've understood that.

"I think some people may think it's the end of the cathedral choir – for us, we don't believe that. We believe it's the beginning of a future where we can reach out into Sheffield and the surrounding area of the diocese in a way we've perhaps never done before.”

Rev Canon Farrow said the ambition was to establish a new choir.

"We hope it'll be bigger and as opposed to 'a choir' there will be 'choirs'. We want to reach out to young people who have probably never thought to join the cathedral. We believe music is a very powerful way of transforming people's lives. It touches people emotionally and spiritually. Cathedral music is astonishingly beautiful.”

Choristers attend schools across Sheffield. Membership is a big commitment; boys usually join around the age of seven, while girls are admitted when they are around 10. Members receive free individual singing lessons and music theory tuition, as well as getting the opportunity to go on tours and sing at concerts.

When asked whether church leaders felt the choir was representative enough of Sheffield society, Rev Canon Farrow said: “I think the choir's always had people of different backgrounds and skills. We've always been open to diversity but I think there are many more people we can reach. People's lives have been changed by being members of the choir, some from very strong musical backgrounds and others for whom it was probably their very first time in music.”

An official statement from the church said: “The dean and chapter have been looking carefully at the music offer of Sheffield Cathedral and have come to the conclusion that there needs to be significant change. This is in order to create a music department and choir ready for the exciting future of the mixed urban community in which we live and work.

“Following a review of the music department in 2019, Sheffield Cathedral Chapter has decided that a fresh start is needed. As a result, chapter has concluded this is the right time to close the current cathedral choir.

“This decision has not been easy, because it will directly impact several colleagues and indirectly impact on us all in our close-knit community. However, we believe this is in the best interests of the long-term mission of the cathedral.”

The cathedral aims to appoint a new canon precentor in August who will lead the recruitment of a new music team.

"We'll have to be guided by what we're allowed to do in the cathedral when it comes to singing,” said Rev Canon Farrow. “But we're hoping that 2021 is when we'll see the beginnings of our future choir.”

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