An English cathedral without boy singers?
NewsWakefield is sinking ever deeper into a mire of its own making. Six months after promising a full investigation into instances of bullying and various forms of abuse, it has just issued this explanation to worried parishioners:
Dear […],
I am writing in response to your complaints regarding Wakefield Cathedral. I am aware it has been some time since communication regarding this has been made. And that is because a thorough investigation has been conducted.
I am sure you will understand it is not appropriate to share the detail around specific individuals or any outcomes or actions specific to those individuals. That said, I wanted to offer you assurances that a detailed and fair investigation has taken place, and I am satisfied with an appropriate outcome.
Best wishes,
Juliette Mclellan
Head of Safeguarding
Insiders have offered us this alarming summary of the present state of affairs:
- The Dean has now ruined a third music department.
- Tom Moore forced into resignation (former Slipped Disc article)
- Ed Jones sacked for not getting on with a bullying precentor (former Slipped Disc article)
- James Bowstead now given opportunity to remove trebles from the choir.
- Seven choristers are now in the choir, others have been sacked, and others have left.
- They have now cut the chorister payment by 75%, promising a bumper payment at the end of year nine. In real terms, they are going to pay them 25% now, then find reasons to sack them before they reach Year 9.
- They have spent an £80,000 legacy promised “For the choristers” on salaries and Lay Clerk fees.
- Funding has been refused for a second year running from the Cathedral Music Trust. Funding tends to be given out every other year.
- Adults are now being paid seven times what they were previously paid.
- Female Adult Sopranos are also being paid £35 a service to bulk out the children’s choir when required.
- The Cathedral talk about “and all cathedrals are finding it more and more difficult to get choristers to commit to the timetables which until quite recently were not a problem”.
- By way of comparison…
- Ripon Cathedral in the same diocese has sixty trebles in their two separate children’s choirs.
- Bradford Cathedral also in the same diocese has over 30 choristers over two treble lines.
- Wakefield had over 35 choristers a year and a half ago over two treble lines.
- In fact, there are few cathedrals struggling with recruiting…
- By way of comparison…
- Adult Sopranos are now singing more services than the trebles.
- The ongoing safeguarding investigations about the cathedral’s failings are continuing, and may be the reason for the depleting involvement of children in the choir.
- Wakefield could become the first Church of England cathedral to remove children permanently from their musical tradition.
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