The Wells Cathedral Chorister Trust (WCCT) has triumphantly exceeded its £500,000 target within just two years, ensuring that financial hardship will no longer prevent talented children from joining the cathedral’s historic choir.
Launched in 2023, the Coronation Fund has garnered support from generous individuals and grant-making organizations, reflecting a widespread commitment to nurturing young musical talent. Arnold Wills, WCCT chair, hailed the milestone as “a remarkable achievement that highlights the community’s dedication to removing financial barriers for aspiring choristers.”
The initiative enjoys royal endorsement from HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh, who urged the public to back this special appeal. Dean Toby Wright celebrated the success, emphasizing that surpassing the goal means “many more young people will benefit from the unique musical and spiritual experiences offered at Wells Cathedral.”
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Thanks to the fund’s generosity, WCCT now covers nearly 100% of a chorister’s school fees at Wells Cathedral School—a prestigious specialist music school supported by the government. Choristers aged seven to fourteen attend, gaining life-changing opportunities both musically and personally.
Timothy Parsons, Wells Cathedral’s director of music, remarked, “This significant funding opens doors for children who might never have considered becoming choristers otherwise.”
Families interested in experiencing chorister life first-hand are invited to the “Be a Chorister for a Day” event on Saturday, September 20, 2025. An annual evensong on October 11, 2025, will celebrate the fundraising success, attended by notable civic and church leaders such as the High Sheriff of Somerset, the Bishop of Bath and Wells, Wells MP Tessa Munt, and the Lord-Lieutenant of Somerset, Mohammed Saddiq. Saddiq praised the Trust’s transformative impact, saying, “The dedication and support provided truly changes the lives of these young choristers.”
For more information about the fund and the Trust, visit www.wcct.co.uk.