In 1989 Dean David Coles, suggested organising an auxiliary choir, to sing when the main choir was on holiday. A small group of the congregation used to gather before a service to practise the hymns, then lead the singing from the front pews. This was under the direction of Lennox Willett, the assistant organist, and Peter de Blois, the cathedral sub-organist at the time. As experienced singers joined the group, regular weekly rehearsals were scheduled, and a repertoire of anthems introduced. Soon a small four-part choir was leading the David Childs' Congregational Eucharist, with graduals and communion motets at holiday services.
Lois Daniels was appointed the Music Assistant in March 1992 for what was initially termed the Auxiliary Choir, later the Cathedral Singers.
Tom Rainey became Director in 1993, followed by Barry Brinson in 1998. The core membership was about 30 people.
Jazz Services began at the Cathedral in July 1992 and the Cathedral Singers also became involved in these services under both Tom & Barry, expert Jazz musicians.
In the year 2000 the Cathedral Director of Music, Lennox Willett, and Dean John Bluck, invited Russell Kent to accept the position of Director of the Cathedral Singers, and later Rosemary Allison was appointed Associate Director. By the beginning of 2006 there was a core membership of 60 singers.
The current Director of The Cathedral Singers is now Lennox Willett
Members are not all Cathedral Regulars but come from various denominations around Christchurch, for the love of singing.
The Cathedral Singers cover for the Cathedral Choir during holiday periods, sing at some of the special services and also visit parishes within the Diocese to lead a service from time to time.
Partly adapted (with permission) from “Vision & Reality” by Colin Brown, published in 2000.