In 1996 the Chapter of Peterborough Cathedral established a Trust to raise money for the Cathedral fabric, ministry and mission. The Hastings Music Endowment Fund was set up to secure the financial future of the music foundation, and has raised almost £2 million to date.
It is our ultimate aim to cover the costs of running the Cathedral Choir from investment income in order to preserve and enhance our rich musical heritage for future generations. We also aim to provide new facilities for choir rehearsal and outreach work within our future plans.
It is vital that the choir is supported in this way if we are to achieve our goals over the next five years. To donate to the Hastings Music Endowment Fund and help us secure the future of our Cathedral Choir please click here.
The Cathedral Music Department has resided in temporary accommodation since the mid-1990s. In 2010, as part of a wider Cathedral Appeal, it is hoped that the Music Department can be housed in newly furbished permanent facilities on the site surrounding the Becket Chapel, near the Norman Arch.
The new scheme will include two Song School rooms (to allow for rehearsing the boy and girl choristers simultaneously), with the Becket Chapel doubling up to provide a venue for chamber concerts, larger choral rehearsals, presentations, conferences and other functions.
There will be space for rehearsing the probationer choristers, facilities for the choristers to eat and relax when they arrive from School, vesting and library areas, office space, and rooms for singing and instrumental teaching.
The Cathedral wishes to become a beacon for music making in the City of Peterborough and is looking to the creation of new groups for amateur music-making, and the possibility for hosting high quality vocal and instrumental tuition accessible by the wider community under the aegis of the Music Association. With the launch of this organisation we have begun a regular concerts programme, and in order to strengthen and diversify this we are looking to obtain a concert piano for the Cathedral itself and for the Becket Chapel. To further our outreach through private teaching, and to provide facilities for our musicians, we are also looking to fund a teaching and practice organ.
The Cathedral Chapter looks to support these areas of growth as well as remaining focused on the primary purpose of the Choir singing at the daily services.
The new scheme will include two Song School rooms (to allow for rehearsing the boy and girl choristers simultaneously), with the Becket Chapel doubling up to provide a venue for chamber concerts, larger choral rehearsals, presentations, conferences and other functions.
There will be space for rehearsing the probationer choristers, facilities for the choristers to eat and relax when they arrive from School, vesting and library areas, office space, and rooms for singing and instrumental teaching.
The Cathedral wishes to become a beacon for music making in the City of Peterborough and is looking to the creation of new groups for amateur music-making, and the possibility for hosting high quality vocal and instrumental tuition accessible by the wider community under the aegis of the Music Association. With the launch of this organisation we have begun a regular concerts programme, and in order to strengthen and diversify this we are looking to obtain a concert piano for the Cathedral itself and for the Becket Chapel. To further our outreach through private teaching, and to provide facilities for our musicians, we are also looking to fund a teaching and practice organ.
The Cathedral Chapter looks to support these areas of growth as well as remaining focused on the primary purpose of the Choir singing at the daily services.
It hopes to raise further funds to sustain and develop the Cathedral Choir so that the music at the Cathedral may be an inspiration to visitors and regular worshippers alike, and provide a ‘sacrifice of praise’ and a witness in this community, City, Diocese and beyond.
If you would like to contribute to the preservation of the Cathedral Choir please click here to find out how you can help.