Grant will boost program to increase children’s participation in Church of England choirs

[Church of England]  The Choir Project, working in partnership with the Royal School of Church Music, will engage children and young people with their local church choirs amid renewed interest in sacred church music.

By creating resources for integrating faith discussions into choir sessions as well as musical performance training, RSCM hopes to engage 2,400 young people as new active Christians. Throughout three years of The Choir Project, 300 new leaders will be trained and 500 volunteers will be mobilized to tutor the choirs of tomorrow.

The number of cathedral choirs in England reached a record high of 207 in 2024, but 57% of local church choirs currently have no children. The project will draw on research that suggests that young people are more likely to remain active in faith communities when they are given meaningful roles, intergenerational relationships and opportunities for leadership.

The Choir Project will support upwards of 200 churches across England to establish or renew choirs for children and young people, helping them rediscover music as a pathway to mission and discipleship.

The Church of England’s Strategic Mission and Ministry Investment Board will invest £400,000 (about $540,000) to support the program.

RCSM director Hugh Morris, said, “We are delighted to be launching this exciting new project. For generations, church choirs have been one of the most natural and joyful ways for young people to encounter faith, learn about worship, and grow in confidence and belonging.

“As we look to our second century of supporting church music and musicians, RSCM sees this investment in young people as a vital step to ensuring a bright future of music ministry, and fostering active discipleship across all backgrounds and socio-economic environments, for the rich heritage we inherit today.”

Starting choirs has proven to attract engagement from young people in churches. Loftus Parish has grown from two to up to 18 children on a Sunday by starting a church choir, and a  young chorister there said,  “Every Sunday that you come, you better yourself in your singing and you better yourself in your knowledge of Jesus and God.” Another added, “I love the stories about Jesus, seeing my friends and singing with the choir.”