St Margaret's Choristers to sing their first service

Everyone is welcome at the service, at which the Dean of Westminster, the Very Reverend Dr David Hoyle, will preach.

The choir will perform at further selected services this academic year, including Evensong in Westminster Abbey on 8th May 2024. By next September, the choristers will be singing weekly at the Sunday evening service in St Margaret’s during term time, as well as at further services in the Abbey and the Chapel of St Mary Undercroft in the Houses of Parliament.

The newly-established choir is made up of girls from schools across London. Choristers receive free singing and music theory tuition as well as a generous scholarship. Under the direction of Greg Morris, Director of Music at St Margaret’s, they will be performing some of the great cathedral music repertoire alongside the professional singers of the St Margaret’s Consort.

Looking ahead to the choir's first service, the Dean said:

'The worship of the Abbey is our reason for being here, it is our character and our duty. It has always been as good as we can make it and music has always been central within it. We are delighted to be taking another step in making that worship better and more inclusive. We will, of course, continue to think about the role girls should have alongside our wonderful boy choristers, honouring our inheritance and looking to a richer future. I look forward to hearing girls' voices in St Margaret's.'

Greg Morris said:

'It has been wonderful to welcome the girls of the St Margaret's Choristers, and help them prepare the music for their first service. The choristers are very excited by the prospect of singing with the professional singers of the Consort on Sunday after three weeks’ of rehearsing and getting to know each other. The choir provides a fantastic opportunity for girls to enjoy singing music from the rich choral tradition of the church, receiving an excellent musical education in the process, and I’m sure the St Margaret’s Choristers will lead the way in an exciting new chapter for the music of St Margaret's.'

More about the St Margaret’s Choristers

Find out more information about the St Margaret's Choristers and details of how to apply can to become a chorister.

About St Margaret’s Church

St Margaret’s Church is situated next to Westminster Abbey and is under the governance of its Dean and Chapter. The church, which celebrated its 500th anniversary this year, has significant links with Parliament and is often called ‘the parish church of the House of Commons’.

As well as services for the parliamentary community, St Margaret’s also holds regular services for schools, charities and other organisations, alongside the important part it plays in the worshipping life of the Abbey.

• More about St Margaret's Church