Worship & Music

Worship & Music

This has been a place of Christian worship for over 1700 years, and this living tradition of worship remains central to the life of the Cathedral today. Our common life is rooted in the daily offering of Morning Prayer, Evensong and the Eucharist. Through this worship - from the stillness of an early morning service at the Shrine, to the vibrancy of the Parish Eucharist or the beauty of a Choral Evensong - we seek to respond to the God who in Jesus Christ has already reached out to find us.

All are welcome at the Cathedral: whether you pray silently as you light a candle, or join in one of our packed Christmas services, we hope you will add your voice to the living tradition which continues to shape our common life, as with Alban we worship and adore the true and living God.

Music has been integral to the liturgy and central to the life of the Cathedral for centuries, and daily choral services continue to be sung during term time by the Cathedral Choir or the Abbey Girls' Choir.

The history of music in the Cathedral stretches back to monastic singing in the Benedictine abbey. During this time, Robert Fayrfax, one of the greatest composers of the 15th century, was Organist.

In the twentieth century, the revolutionary design of the Cathedral Organ and the inception of the International Organ Festival and Competition by Peter Hurford (then Master of the Music), raised the profile of choral and organ music at the Cathedral, and consolidated the worldwide reputation of the Cathedral's musical foundation.

Today the thriving musical life of the Cathedral and of the Parish incorporates five choirs, three organists, and an orchestra.