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Gloucester Cathedral welcomes The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester
Image credit: Caroline Potter
Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester were welcomed to Gloucester Cathedral by the Very Reverend Andrew Zihni, the Dean of Gloucester to meet with key individuals from the Cathedral’s participation and music departments, before enjoying world-class singing from Gloucester Cathedral’s choirs at Choral Evensong. The visit formed part of The Duke of Gloucester’s ‘Cathedrals in Pilgrimage’ plans, which will see The Duke visit a number of Cathedrals around the country and encounter the good work they do. Similarly, The Duchess’s Patronage of the Cathedral Music Trust and passion for choral music also guided the meeting.
During their visit, The Duke and Duchess were given an overview of the Cathedral’s work within the community, meeting with members of staff from the Learning and Participation team, who engage in the Cathedral’s social responsibility, outreach and diversity work. This team is central to the Cathedral’s mission for having a positive contribution to the city, Diocese of Gloucester and county.
As Patrons of Gloucester Cathedral’s ambitious In Tune Organ and Music campaign, which will fund the refurbishment of the Cathedral's historic organ and revitalise the Cathedral’s musical education offering, Their Royal Highnesses have a keen interest in supporting Gloucester Cathedral’s musical heritage. The Duke and Duchess attended Choral Evensong, met with choristers, and heard about the progress of the Cathedral’s organ refurbishment, which began this month. Gloucester Cathedral’s historic organ is widely regarded as one of the most important instruments of its kind in the world. The In Tune campaign aims to raise £3 million by 2026, which will fund the refurbishment and renewal of the beloved organ. It will also enable new life to be breathed into the musical education that the Cathedral offers to hundreds of young people, so that future generations can continue to experience the joy of music-making in this amazing building.
The Very Reverend Andrew Zihni, Dean of Gloucester, said:
“It was a pleasure to welcome Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester to the Cathedral, who are keen supporters of music and its benefits. Their presence with us also brought joy and encouragement to our staff who work extensively in the community, delivering on the Cathedral’s mission and outreach in the areas of social responsibility and diversity.
We are especially grateful for their support of our project to futureproof and sustain our musical heritage for future generations as In Tune Patrons. We are delighted the campaign is gaining momentum and we look forward to welcoming The Duke and Duchess to more In Tune events between now and 2026. We hope their support will encourage many others to give however they can to this campaign.”
To find out more about the In Tune campaign, including how to donate, please visit https://gloucestercathedral.org.uk/support/in-tune-organ-and-music-campaign
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About Gloucester Cathedral:
Gloucester Cathedral is a glorious sacred space in the heart of Gloucester, with a history that can be traced back to 679AD. It is the mother church of the Diocese of Gloucester and welcomes around 400,000 visitors every year. The Cathedral is open daily, with entry by donation, and hosts a packed and varied programme of services and events throughout the year.
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Elspeth Keep
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