A new beginning for Sheffield’s choral tradition

sir – I would like to assure Marjorie Duerden and Edward Jackson (Letters, July 28) that Sheffield Cathedral Chapter is absolutely committed to the long-term development of our Anglican choral tradition.

Our decision to close the current choir was taken after a significant independent review of our music provision, which encouraged us to raise our ambition and advised that a fresh start was in everyone’s best interest. This was hard to digest, but we have found that incremental changes do not have the required impact.

We are determined that our choir will once again be one of the finest in the United Kingdom, and we will be singing the full choral repertoire: from Mozart, Haydn and Schubert at the Cathedral Eucharist, to Gibbons and Byrd at Choral Evensong. We have also committed ourselves to retaining our financial investment in cathedral music, and are looking to work with partners to increase our resources further.

The young people who were members of the old choir remain part of our worshipping community, and will be warmly encouraged to join the new choir. There will be new leadership and a safe, welcoming, culture, which will support choristers to achieve at the highest level. We plan to build up the new choir, step by step, from autumn 2021.

In Sheffield, as in every English cathedral, we want to bring the very best our culture can offer to God in worship. In making this new beginning, our intention is to ensure the health and strength of this tradition in our cathedral for many years to come.

Very Rev Peter Bradley

Dean of Sheffield

The Cathedral Church of St Peter and St Paul