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2009 - A Year of Two Birthdays PDF Print E-mail

The visit to Wells Cathedral School by Her Royal Highness The Countess of Wessex on Tuesday 3rd November, 2009 marks two important anniversaries;  the 1,100 Anniversary of the foundation of the school and the 15th Anniversary of the formation of the girl choristers as part of the Cathedral Music Foundation.


Although there are no extant documents to record the presence of a school in Wells in AD 909, the church of Wells became a cathedral, it is certain that one existed.  Cathedrals and great churches needed to train, educate, and house the boy choristers who were an essential part of the music for the services, so at the very least a school had to be provided for them.

The school has now reached an important milestone celebrating a millennium plus a century as a flourishing and remarkable institution.  It takes its place among modern educational institutions supported by its impressive history and its thoroughly up-to-date approach to the needs and wishes of today’s young people.  The school is an internationally renowned specialist music school and one of four supported by the UK Government’s Music and Dance Scheme, each providing world-class music training from the elite of the profession.  The choristers are part of this specialism.

The girl choristers’ choir was formed in 1994.   The new choir settled in very quickly: ‘At the beginning of the year we were thrown in at the deep end, having to do evensongs without the support of the Vicars Choral, but we managed and even enjoyed it once we got over our nerves.   After a while we gained confidence and the number of services we sang built up as our repertoire grew.   When we started all the adults were convinced that there would be lots of jealousy and rude comments from the boys, but we soon became good friends’.   The two choirs sing together as The Great Choir regularly for major services celebrating the festivals of the Church for example at Christmas and Easter and for special services such as the installation of The Bishop or The Dean.

The girls’ choir has had major successes with their recordings and concerts which receive critical acclaim. One former girl chorister writes: “It was wonderful to see people’s opinions change towards the girl choristers over time, with fewer people viewing us as pariahs.  Being a girl chorister teaches you so much, and not just musically; it has given many girls so many opportunities, and has lead to lifelong friendships.   I am so grateful that Wells Cathedral took the brave decision to create the girl choristers.   I still think of myself as a girl chorister of Wells Cathedral and feel a sense of camaraderie with the present girls”.

The Wells Cathedral Girl Chorister Trust is now providing financial support to girl choristers to enable them to remain as choristers, alongside the boy choristers, within the Cathedral Music Foundation and to continue with their educational studies at Wells Cathedral School – which is their home.
Last Updated ( Wednesday, 16 December 2009 )