Choristers Chloe Chawner, right, Poppy Braddy, centre, and Abby Cox look at their hymn books at Canterbury Cathedral, Canterbury, England, as the first all female choir at the cathedral rehearses prior to their debut on Saturday. The pure, high voices of the choir soar toward the vaulted ceiling of Canterbury Cathedral as they have for more than 1,000 years. Just one thing is different _ these young choristers in their purple cassocks are girls, and their public debut at Evensong on Saturday will end centuries of all-male tradition.Canterbury is not the first British cathedral to set up a girls’ choir, but as mother church of the 80 million-strong Anglican Communion – one struggling with the role of women in its ranks – its move has special resonance.CANTERBURY, England – The pure, high voices of the choir soar toward the vaulted ceiling of Canterbury Cathedral as they have for more than 1,000 years. Just one thing is different – these young choristers in their purple cassocks are girls.
On Saturday, their public debut at Evensong will end centuries of all-male tradition.
Canterbury is not the first British cathedral to set up a girls’ choir, but as the mother church of the 80 million-strong Anglican Communion – one struggling to define the role of women in its ranks – its move has special resonance.
That is not lost on the 16 girls, aged between 12 and 16, who have been chosen to make this bit of history.
“That’s an amazing thought in the back of your mind – no girl has sung in this cathedral over an amazingly long period of time,” said 12-year-old choir member Abby Cox. “I’ve always liked singing, but I think this is the major event that has happened in my life and I’m so excited to be part of it.”