This new song series at Holy Sepulchre is the first featuring our newly rebuilt Steinway model D piano. A chance to hear some of the rising stars of the UK classical vocal scene live in concert in the warm and friendly environment of the National Musicians’ Church.

Perfomance with Eyra Norman and Abhisri Chaudhuri

Tickets:
Adult - £8
Student/Concession - £5

Since the beginning of the Church, music has profoundly shaped the patterns of Christian worship. As a powerful form capable of moving hearts and directing desires, Christians have often grappled with how to integrate this complex and yet deeply essential form of praise. What is the right balance between emotivity of musical expression and the rationality of the spoken word? Should the music of the church reflect cultural trends or have its own unique form and style? So often, these questions come into being in the working relationship of ministers who lead liturgy and the musicians who support them. While there is real potential for partnership between these roles, musicians and clergy are often focused on the criteria unique to their disciplines. This opens up the question: what is the right way to reconcile these equally important and yet sometimes contrasting motivations? This conference offers a possible pathway by outlining a historically and theologically rich vision of music and spirituality, rooted in both prayer and practice. Sessions will address the crucial role of musical theology in Christian worship, the importance of prayer as a foundation, and how these aspects might help guide the healthy mission of clergy and musicians. The day will include talks, space for discussion and connection with others, times of prayer, and, of course, transformative musical worship. Whether clergy, musician, or simply a layperson passionate about the role of liturgical music in your parish, we hope you will join us in discovering new ways of glorifying God in our parishes and Christian communities through music.

For more information, visit hsl.church/upcoming-events/musicalmission

Holy Sepulchre, The National Musicians' Church, is delighted to celebrate the arrival of its newly rebuilt Steinway Model D piano. As the Musicians' Church, this instrument is to be used for music-making of the highest calibre but also to enhance causes close to the heart of the church. As such, Freedom Cries Out is the perfect event, featuring soprano Samantha Crawford and pianist Berrak Dyer and music by leading contemporary composers, including Errollyn Wallen, Cecilia McDowall, Cheryl Frances-Hoad, Roxanna Panufnik and a world premiere by Raymond Yiu.

Please click the link for more details

The concert is a song recital and is called Freedom Cries Out, a programme of new music sung and put together by Soprano, Samantha Crawford, which tells the stories of displaced people and refugees.

The programme touches on themes of Homeland, Exile, War, Family, Hope and New Beginnings. Freedom Cries Out features a newly commissioned song cycle by Raymond Yiu, setting stories from real refugee accounts taken from literary magazine, 'The Other Side of Hope.' It also includes the UK premiere of Shawn Okpebholo's song cycle 'Words Like Freedom,' setting poems of Langston Hughes, and Jake Heggie's 'These Strangers.' These cycles sit alongside selected songs by Errollyn Wallen, Cecilia McDowall, Cheryl Frances-Hoad amongst others. The programme features two newly created songs from arias in Roxanna Panufnik's opera, 'Dalia' (Garsington Opera, 2022), telling the story of a Syrian refugee girl as she crosses the Mediterranean Sea.

Join us for A Service of Thanksgiving & Celebration for the 2025 BBC Proms.

This is a service of Choral Evensong in which the wreath from the bust of Sir Henry Wood at the Proms is returned to his final resting place. The service will be conducted by The Reverend Nicholas Mottershead, Priest in charge, Director of Music: Peter Asprey, Organist: Joshua Ryan and The Choir of Holy Sepulchre.

Tickets will become available at 10:00 on Tuesday, 24-Jun-2025.

Music to include: A Little Jazz Mass, Five Days That Changed The World, A Selection of Anthems

Saturday 4th October, 2025, 9.30am - 4.30pm
Holy Sepulchre, The National Musicians’ Church (address needs to be somewhere)

Tickets: £25, £18 students

Please click the link to sign up

We have a guest conductor for our St. Cecilia service on 19th November, David Hill MBE. David is one of the nations foremost choral and orchestral conductors. He is currently Musical Director of the Bach Choir and the Leeds Philharmonic Society, Principle Conductor of the Yale Schola Cantorum and Associate Guest Conductor of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. Former positions include Director of Music at Winchester Cathedral, Westminster Cathedral and St. John's College, Cambridge.

Come and Sing (Music TBC) or simply come and enjoy the service. Drinks will be served afterwards

Singing places will be limited to ensure a balance of parts. There is a £3 charge for singing places to cover the hire cost of the music.

A reasonable level of sight reading is required.

Music will be given out on the day although a scanned version will be sent out 3 weeks in advance. Singers should arrive at 4.15pm to collect their music in time for a 4.30pm rehearsal. Casual dress.

Congregation members should arrive at 5pm for a 5.15pm service.

If you have any questions, you can contact our Director of Music Peter Asprey at [email protected]

To sign up, click the link

These are short talks that form part of Choral Evensong on Wednesday evenings with the professional Choir of Holy Sepulchre. Do come along and stay for a drink afterwards!

January 29th – Ruth Haines, Head of Opera Press, Royal Opera House
'The Song was Raised in Praise to the Lord.' Why does God Love Music So Much?

February 26th – Ewan King, Minister, Heath St. Baptist Church
Hesitations: Changing One’s Mind About Church Music

March 26th – Revd. Philip Dawson (Curate, St. Giles-in-the-Fields) and Henry Lamprecht (The Community Communications Partnership)
Portraying Christ in music : Fully Human and Fully Divine

April 30th – Revd. Canon Dr. Victoria Johnson, Dan of Chapel, St. John’s College, Cambridge
The Music of the Spheres: Music, Science and the Singing Universe