Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester are announced as Patrons of the Cathedral’s In Tune campaign

Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester have a long-standing and close relationship with Gloucester Cathedral, including being patrons of the transformative Phase I of Project Pilgrim which was completed in 2018, and are frequent visitors to the city for the annual Gloucester Day Parade. In this new patronage, The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester will play a crucial role in supporting the Cathedral’s In Tune campaign, which was launched earlier this year.

Music is an integral part of the Cathedral’s daily life and mission, and has been for nearly 1,000 years. At the very centre of this is the historic organ, which was originally constructed in 1666 and represents the only complete 17th century organ case in this country. It has been associated with countless illustrious musicians in the years since, including the likes of Sir Herbert Brewer, Herbert Howells and John Stafford Smith, and is widely regarded as one of the most important instruments of its kind in the world. In the spring of 2022, the organ failed and now needs to be brought back to life. 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. 

Among their varied interests, The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester are keen supporters of music and its benefits. The Duchess of Gloucester is Patron of the Royal Academy of Music and the Cathedral Music Trust, and Their Royal Highnesses are frequent visitors to the world-famous Three Choirs Festival which is hosted by Gloucester, Worcester and Hereford Cathedrals.

The support of The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester is a huge boost to the In Tune campaign. They will play a vital role in raising awareness around the Cathedral’s ambitious work to protect and secure its musical heritage, as well as ensuring that it can be accessed by hundreds of young people for years to come. Their Royal Highnesses will also be attending a number of events at the Cathedral in their capacity as Patrons.

The Very Reverend Andrew Zihni, Dean of Gloucester, said:

“I am delighted and honoured that Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester have graciously accepted my invitation to become Patrons of our In Tune organ and music campaign. We are enormously grateful to The Duke and Duchess for their support in helping to ensure that we build the right foundations for a sustainable future for our music, so that generations to come can enjoy music and singing in Gloucester Cathedral, as well as in the wider community.

We shall look forward to welcoming The Duke and Duchess to In Tune events between now and 2026, and hope that their support will encourage many others to give however they can to this campaign to enable us to continue to strengthen our communities to be in tune with heaven and in touch with daily life.”

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

ENDS

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.

For more press information contact:

Ellie Fells

Marketing & Communications Manager at Gloucester Cathedral

Ellie.fells@gloucestercathedral.org.uk