The documented history of the ‘modern’ St Albans Cathedral Choir stretches back only as far as around the mid-1800s, although the Benedictine monastery of St Albans Abbey had a distinguished musical history stretching back before 1539 when the Abbey was dissolved by Henry VIII.

The first organist at the Abbey is recorded as Adam in 1302 and in the late 15th Century Robert Fayrfax was organist and, after his death in 1521, he was buried in the Abbey.  

In 1877 a Royal Charter giving the town City status was granted by Queen Victoria and the Abbey Church became a Cathedral and the Choir of the Cathedral and Abbey Church of Saint Alban came into existence with John Stocks Booth being appointed the first Cathedral Organist in 1878.

The first known photograph of the choir was taken around 1900 and shows George Gaffe (centre-left) as organist with the clergy and lay clerks.  

Our “Former Choristers’ Association” was originally established in the mid-80’s and in 1987 St. Albans Cathedral hosted The Federation of Cathedral Old Choristers' Association Annual Festival. However in 1992 the management and administration of Association was put in abeyance until an effective committee could be found that would rekindle its ashes and try to develop an Association that was robust and sustainable.  

In June 2007 former choristers, lay clerks, organists and organ scholars, and former Precentors gathered for a Service of Choral Evensong in the Quire. Over 100 voices, including those of the current Cathedral and Abbey Girls’ Choirs produced a stirring and roof-raising sound with Parry’s “I was Glad” which drew enthusiastic and moving reactions from those who listened as well as those who participated - 'thrilling', 'awesome', 'spine-tingling' - were just some of the comments. This musical gathering provided the stimulus for the re-energising of the Choristers’ Association and in September 2007 the St. Albans Cathedral Ex-Choristers’ Association was officially re-launched.

Dr Peter Hurford OBE, who was Master of the Music from 1958 to 1978, accepted the Association’s invitation to become our first President and Dr Jeffrey John DD, Dean of St. Albans, latterly became the Patron of the Association. In July 2008 the Association, now with over 450 members on the role, held its second reunion. Choral Evensong, led by the Cathedral Choir and conducted by Andrew Lucas, was attended by some 120 members, 50 of whom joined with the Cathedral Choir to sing the Magnificat & Nunc Dimittis in C by Charles Villiers Stanford and Light of the World by Edward Elgar.

St. Albans Cathedral Choir and Abbey Girls Choir - July 2008
Master of the Music, Andrew Lucas & Assistant Master of the Music, Simon Johnston .

The Reunion was attended by our oldest member, Raymond Hughes MBE (94) who sang with Willie Lewis Luttman in the 1920’s together with two other youngsters; Jimmy Cozens (1936 to 1942) and Jeffrey Collins (1929 to 1934).

The photograph above which was taken under the cathedral tower shows Dr Hurford and Honorary Member, Mrs Pat Hurford with former tenor Lay Clerk, Rogers Covey Crump in the centre together with the attending members. Raymond Hughes is seated in the wheelchair.

One of Andrew Lucas’ many successes at St. Albans was the formation of The Abbey Singers in 1999. This group comprises former treble and soprano choristers who have left the Cathedral Choir or Abbey Girls’ Choir either because voices have broken or they have reached the maximum age. There are currently around 24 ‘on the books’ and they meet every Thursday in term time under the excellent direction of Tom Winpenny to rehearse for their quarterly service of Choral Evensong. This provides an important opportunity for those young people who still wish to be associated with the Cathedral Choirs. The photograph was taken after the service of Choral Evensong on 23rd December 2008.

Officers of the Association

 Patron
Dr. Jeffrey John – Dean of St. Albans

President
Dr. Peter Hurford OBE

Vice Presidents
Andrew Lucas
Dr. Barry Rose OBE
Colin Walsh
Dr. Stephen Darlington

Chairman: Malcolm Bury
Honorary Secretary: Bob Staten
Honorary Treasurer: David Martin-Smith
IT Manager: Simon Colston

Cathedral Choir Representative
John Adams (1970s)

Abbey Girls Choir Representatives
Libby Godlee
Rosie Cooke

Honorary Members
Simon Preston CBE Hon FRCO, MA, MusB
Patricia Hurford MA
Simon Lindley DUniv, FRCO(CHM), FTCL, FRSCM
Andrew Parnell MA (Cantab) FRCO
Simon Johnson BA FRCO

David Ireson ARCM; ECA Co-founder
Christine Blackie; ECA Co-founder
Moira Dean; ECA Co-founder
Rosalind de Rivaz; ECA Co-founder
Tony de Rivaz FCA

Obituaries

Raymond Hughes MBE – d. 14^th August 2009
Treble Chorister 1921 - 1928

Forthcoming Events

 26^th June 2010
Cathedral Choir * Abbey Girls’ Choir
‘Foundation Day’ Reunion
St. Albans Abbey

18^th September 2010
“A Musical Happening”
Ex-Choristers’ Association Concert
St. Albans Abbey