New Festival of Faith and Music to launch at York Minster

The Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell will give a keynote speech at the Church Times Festival of Faith and Music, a new venture created in partnership with the Royal School of Church Music (RSCM), that will be staged for the first time at York Minster from Friday 26 until Sunday 28 April.

The event is for clergy, music leaders, people involved in church music and anyone with a general interest in sacred music. The festival aims to be a source of celebration inspiration, encouragement, support, learning and resource.

Sarah Meyrick, Assistant Editor of the Church Times and co-director of the festival, said: “This is a brand-new venture, created in partnership with our RSCM colleagues. Our aim has been to create a stimulating programme of music and worship, talks and workshops, that celebrates church music in all its glories. We’re so delighted to be coming to York and are grateful to the Minster for their warm welcome.”

The festival programme includes workshops and discussions on subjects as diverse as how to take a church choir into the community, using music to support church engagement with dementia, caring for a pipe organ, choosing hymns, and growing the church younger through music. An exciting and engaging range of speakers will share their perspectives on the world of church and choral music. Festival goers will also be able to experience York Minster’s choral music tradition at special services and at Evensong during the weekend.

York Minster’s outgoing Precentor, Canon Victoria Johnson, who is soon to take up a new role as Dean of St John’s College Cambridge, will return for the festival to give a talk based on her new book, “On Voice: Speech, Song, Silence: Human and Divine” an exploration of the power, sound and sonics of the human voice in sacred and divine music. Commenting on the Festival of Faith and Music, Canon Victoria said:

“Music is central to the life of the church; we are a people who are called to sing! It’s wonderful to be part of the very first Church Times Festival of Faith and Music at York Minster, a cathedral with a rich history of music making. Clergy and musicians from all over the country will come together in York to celebrate music and song within the life of faith and discipleship and encourage one another in making music to the glory of God.”

Tickets are available for booking. Discounts will be available to RSCM members and Church Times subscribers. For the full festival programme and to book go to: https://faithandmusic.hymnsam.co.uk

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