During Choral Evensong on Sunday a cheque for £40,000 was presented to Sheffield Cathedral as an endowment grant for a choral scholarship.

This scholarship will be known as Friends of Cathedral Music Sam Hiller Scholarship. Sam was an Alto Choral Scholar, and subsequently Songman in the choir of Sheffield Cathedral from 2002 to 2009. Sadly, Sam died suddenly in March 2012 at the age of 27.

This is a major grant from Friends of Cathedral Music who are celebrating their Diamond Jubilee this year by holding magnificent Gatherings in Cathedrals, churches and collegiate institutions throughout the UK, in the Netherlands and Australia, and by distributing grants towards their aim of “safeguarding a priceless heritage“ … the music in these institutions.

The total grants distributed this Jubilee year amount to £600,000.

Sheffield Diocese is the recipient of the largest total award. The other grant in Sheffield Diocese is a £25,000 endowment grant for an organ scholar at St John’s Ranmoor.

A further Friends of Cathedral Music Diamond Jubilee Gathering will be held at St John’s Ranmoor on Saturday 19th November from 11am, concluding with Evensong at 4:30pm.

In 2017, Sheffield will be holding a three day National Gathering from Friday 13th October to Sunday 15th October. As 2017 marks the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation, our Gathering will explore the effect of this major event in church history on the changes in music, liturgy and architecture in England with particular reference to Sheffield.

For further information please take a look at the websites below.

Friends of Cathedral Music: www.fcm.org.uk
St John’s Ranmoor: www.stjohnsranmoor.org.uk
Reformation: www.reformation500.uk

Mrs Virge James
FCM Diocesan Representative