St. Paul's Cathedral to include female vocalists in its Christmas Day choir for the first time in nearly a millennium.
In a historic first, girl choristers will be performing at the Christmas Day carol service at London's St Paul's Cathedral. The announcement was made in May 2022, marking a significant milestone for the cathedral community.
The first two girl choristers, Lila and Lois, officially joined the choir at St Paul's Cathedral in June 2024. This move follows a trend that has been gradually gaining momentum across many cathedrals in England.
St Paul's Cathedral, a majestic building with a 900-year history, first allowed girl choristers to join its choir in 2006. Since then, the number of girl choristers has been growing, with some cathedrals now having more girls than boys in their choirs.
Leicester was the first Church of England cathedral to have a female top line independent of the boys, founding its girls' choir in 1974. Salisbury followed suit in 1991, becoming the first Church of England cathedral to admit girls on parity with boys. Many cathedrals, including York Minster, Durham, and Exeter, have followed this path after Salisbury.
The Christmas Day carol service, which will take place under the 365-foot (111-meter) dome of St Paul's Cathedral, will be a special occasion for Lila and Lois. They will be singing alongside the adult and child choristers of the cathedral, marking a new era for the choir.
Sarah Mullally, the Bishop of London, welcomed Lila and Lois into the cathedral community. She emphasised the importance of giving equal opportunities to both girls and boys, stating that girls are now expected to play an equal part when singing at cathedral services and events of national importance.
A photocall and rehearsal for the Christmas Day carol service took place on Monday, with the choir members preparing diligently for the grand event. The original publication date of this article is 23 December 2024, and it was updated on 27 December 2024, reflecting the excitement and anticipation building up to the historic event.
The Christmas Day carol service at London's St Paul's Cathedral promises to be a memorable occasion, not just for the choir members but for the entire cathedral community and the city of London.
- As the Christmas Day carol service approaches, one might consider exploring various lifestyle blogs for fashion-and-beauty tips to attend the event in style.
- In preparation for the trip to London, it might be useful to research home-and-garden pet-friendly accommodations for travelers who would like to bring their pets along.
- Following the historic event, travelers might choose to extend their stay in London, allowing time for leisurely drive around the city in their cars, appreciating the city's architectural marvels and iconic landmarks.
