Gloucester Cathedral Services and Music - July 2025

Welcome

"The voice of prayer is never silent, nor dies the strain of praise away."

For two millennia, Christians have been offering daily worship to God. Since its foundation as a monastery in the eleventh century, Gloucester Cathedral has maintained a daily rhythm of prayer, sustaining its life and bringing to God particular needs and the needs of the whole world. These services are a small part of the eternal round of worship, which is never silent and will never die away.

Regular Worship

At the heart of our life is the regular cycle of daily prayer. Each day begins with the peaceful, said service of Morning Prayer. Our working day pauses at 12:30 p.m. for the offering of the Eucharist, often called Holy Communion, in either the Thomas Chapel or the Lady Chapel. The day concludes with Choral Evensong, sung by one of our choirs, or said Evening Prayer. Our principal act of worship is the 10:15 a.m. Choral Eucharist on Sundays.

The Choral Eucharist on Sundays is live-streamed on YouTube and Facebook. The cameras focus mainly on the clergy, choir, and readers. Please alert one of the stewards if you do not wish to appear on camera.

Other Services

Morning Prayer on Sundays is said at 8:30 a.m., and the ancient office of Compline is said on Tuesdays at 8:30 p.m., both on Zoom. To join, email reception@gloucestercathedral.org.uk.

Prayers for Peace and Justice are said on the first Tuesday of each month in person in the Cathedral and on Zoom. If you would like to join by Zoom, email reception@gloucestercathedral.org.uk.

Commemorations in blue denote those with a direct link to the Cathedral, the city and county, and the linked Dioceses.

All hymns are taken from ‘Common Praise' unless otherwise stated.

• (CW) – Common Worship: modern language
• (BCP) – Book of Common Prayer: traditional language

Music at Gloucester Cathedral

Music has been at the heart of Gloucester Cathedral's worship for almost 1,000 years. Today, we have an international reputation for offering the finest music to the glory of God and for the enrichment of our worship. Music has the ability to transform and connect people through prayer and praise, and we strive to promote a greater appreciation of its value by bringing people together to share in stimulating musical experiences.

The Cathedral has five choirs which sing regularly:

The Boy and Girl Choristers

These are separate choirs that join together for large occasions. Choristers join from the age of six and receive an outstanding musical education during their time here. They are educated at The King's School, Gloucester and enjoy an attractive Choral Scholarship for the duration of their choristership. They sing most of the services at the Cathedral, along with our Lay Clerks (professional adult singers).

The Junior Choir

The Junior Choir is a voluntary choir of around 50 children in years two to five, which meets weekly for a singing rehearsal. They also perform in services and concerts, most notably in our Family Eucharist, once a month.

The Middle Choir

Formed in September 2019, the Middle Choir is an intermediate step between the Junior Choir and Youth Choir, with the aim of further developing the musicianship of young people. Young people can join the Middle Choir from school year 6 and will leave at the end of school year 9, when they will be encouraged to progress into the Cathedral Youth Choir. The choir regularly joins with the Youth Choir for services and Evensongs, helping to ease the transition between the choirs. The choir also often combines with the choristers and Youth Choir for major cathedral concerts.

The Youth Choir

The Youth Choir is one of the best of its kind in the country. Founded in 1999, it is made up of talented young singers in School Years 10 to 13, from schools and colleges all around Gloucestershire, who perform to a very high standard.

For more information, email choirs@gloucestercathedral.org.uk.

Tuesday 1 July

Verses: Cantoris

• 08:30 Morning Prayer (CW) - Thomas Chapel
• 12:30 Eucharist (CW) - Lady Chapel
• 17:30 Choral Evensong (BCP) - Quire
  Sung by the Cathedral Lay Clerks
  Responses: Piers Kennedy
  Psalm: 50
  Canticles: Wood in E
  Anthem: Macpherson, Jubilate Deo

Wednesday 2 July

• 08:30 Morning Prayer (CW) - Lady Chapel
• 12:30 Eucharist (CW) - Lady Chapel
• 17:30 Evening Prayer (BCP) - Lady Chapel
• 18:00 Junior Voices Project Concert - Nave

Thursday 3 July - Thomas the Apostle

• 08:30 Morning Prayer (CW) - Thomas Chapel
• 12:30 Eucharist (CW) - Lady Chapel
• 17:30 Choral Evensong (BCP) - Quire
  Sung by the Cathedral Youth Choir
  Responses: Ashley Grote
  Psalm: 139
  Canticles: Brewer in B flat
  Anthem: Philip Moore, Come, dearest Lord

Friday 4 July

• 08:30 Morning Prayer (CW) - Lady Chapel
• 12:30 Eucharist (CW) - Thomas Chapel
• 15:00 Organ Recital - Quire
  Given by Jinzi Feng-Huang (Organ Scholar)
  Admission free, retiring collection
• 17:30 Choral Evensong (BCP) - Quire
  Sung by the Cathedral Lay Clerks
  Responses: Cleobury
  Psalm: 38
  Canticles: Doveton, Evening Service
  Anthem: Byrd, Veni, Sancte Spiritus

Saturday 5 July

William Brough, Dean of Gloucester 1643-1671, d. 1671

• 08:30 Morning Prayer (CW) - Sebroke Chapel
• 12:30 Eucharist (CW) - Thomas Chapel
• 17:30 Evening Prayer (BCP) - Thomas Chapel
• 19:30 Cheltenham Music Festival Concert
  Music by Fauré, Brahms and Berlioz.
  Tickets from https://www.cheltenhamfestivals.org

Sunday 6 July - 3rd Sunday After Trinity

• 08:00 Eucharist (BCP) - Memorial Chapel
• 08:30 Morning Prayer (CW) - Zoom
• 10:15 Family Eucharist (CW) - Nave
  Sung by the Cathedral Choristers, Middle Choir and Junior Choir
  Setting: David Thorne, Mass of St Thomas
  Hymns: 401, 591, 437
  Sermon: The Archdeacon of Gloucester
  Motet: arr. Ken Burton, Every time I feel the spirit
  Voluntary: Dubois, Toccata
• 15:00 Choral Evensong (BCP) - Quire
  Sung by the Cathedral Choir and Youth Choir
  Introit: Ley, A Prayer of King Henry VI
  Responses: Rose
  Psalm: 65
  Canticles: Bax, Magnificat; Holst, Nunc dimittis
  Anthem: Monteverdi, Nisi Dominus
  Sermon: The Dean
  Hymn: 430
  Voluntary: Widor, Toccata (Symphony V)

Monday 7 July

• 08:30 Morning Prayer (CW) - Lady Chapel
• 12:30 Eucharist (CW) - Lady Chapel
• 17:30 Evening Prayer (BCP) - Lady Chapel

Tuesday 8 July

• 08:30 Morning Prayer (CW) - Thomas Chapel
• 12:30 Eucharist (CW) - Lady Chapel
• 17:30 Evening Prayer (BCP) - Lady Chapel

Wednesday 9 July

• 08:30 Morning Prayer (CW) - Lady Chapel
• 12:30 Eucharist (CW) - Lady Chapel
• 17:30 Evening Prayer (BCP) - Lady Chapel

Thursday 10 July

• 08:30 Morning Prayer (CW) - Thomas Chapel
• 12:30 Eucharist (CW) - Lady Chapel
• 17:30 Evening Prayer (BCP) - Lady Chapel

Friday 11 July

Benedict, abbot, c. 550

• 08:30 Morning Prayer (CW) - Lady Chapel
• 12:30 Eucharist (CW) - Thomas Chapel
• 17:30 Evening Prayer (BCP) - Lady Chapel

Saturday 12 July

• 08:30 Morning Prayer (CW) - Sebroke Chapel
• 12:30 Eucharist (CW) - Thomas Chapel
• 16:30 Evening Prayer (BCP) - Lady Chapel

Sunday 13 July - 4th Sunday After Trinity

• 08:00 Eucharist (BCP) - Chapel of St Andrew
• 08:30 Morning Prayer (CW) - Zoom
• 10:15 Sung Eucharist (CW) - Nave
  Sung by Harriet Perfect
  Setting: Richard Jeffrey-Grey, Mass for Solo Voice and Organ
  Hymns: 6ii, 393, 290, A&M563
  Sermon: The Canon Chancellor
• 15:00 Evening Prayer (BCP) - Lady Chapel

Monday 14 July

John Keble, priest, poet, 1866

• 08:30 Morning Prayer (CW) - Lady Chapel
• 12:30 Eucharist (CW) - Thomas Chapel
• 17:30 Evening Prayer - Lady Chapel

Tuesday 15 July

Swithun, bishop, c. 862; Bonaventure, friar, bishop, teacher of the faith, 1274; Serlo, abbot of Gloucester, 1104

• 08:30 Morning Prayer (CW) - Thomas Chapel
• 12:30 Eucharist (CW) - Lady Chapel
• 17:30 Choral Evensong (BCP) - Quire
  Sung by the choir of Bedford School
  Responses: plainsong
  Psalm: 89 vv. 20-end
  Canticles: Wood in D
  Anthem: Bullock, Give us the wings of faith

Wednesday 16 July

Osmund, bishop, 1099

• 08:30 Morning Prayer (CW) - Lady Chapel
• 12:30 Eucharist (CW) - Lady Chapel
• 17:30 Choral Evensong (BCP) - Quire
  Sung by the choir of Bedford School
  Responses: plainsong
  Psalm: 91
  Canticles: Richard Shephard
  Anthem: Mendelssohn, Verleih uns Frieden

Thursday 17 July

Kenelm, prince of Mercia, 821

• 08:30 Morning Prayer (CW) - Thomas Chapel
• 12:30 Eucharist (CW) - Lady Chapel
• 17:30 Choral Evensong (BCP) - Quire
  Sung by the choir of Bedford School
  Responses: Radcliffe
  Psalm: 94
  Canticles: Philip Moore, First Service
  Anthem: Traditional, When a knight won his spurs

Friday 18 July

Elizabeth Fry, prison reformer, 1845

• 08:30 Morning Prayer (CW) - Lady Chapel
• 12:30 Eucharist (CW) - Thomas Chapel
• 17:30 Evening Prayer (BCP) - Lady Chapel

Saturday 19 July

Gregory, bishop, and his sister Macrina, deaconess, teachers of the faith, c. 394 and c. 379

• 08:30 Morning Prayer (CW) - Thomas Chapel
• 12:30 Eucharist (CW) - Thomas Chapel
• 16:30 Choral Evensong (BCP) - Quire
  Sung by the choir of Bedford School
  Introit: Tallis, O nata lux
  Responses: Radcliffe
  Psalm: 104
  Canticles: Stanford in C
  Anthem: Haydn, Insanae et vanae curae
  Hymn: 14

Sunday 20 July - 5th Sunday After Trinity

• 08:00 Eucharist (BCP) - Chapel of St John the Baptist
• 08:30 Morning Prayer (CW) - Zoom
• 10:15 Choral Eucharist (CW) - Nave
  Sung by the choir of Bedford School
  Setting: Mozart, Missa brevis in D, K. 194
  Hymns: 380i, 507, 422, A&M365
  Sermon: The Dean
  Motet: Vaughan Williams, O taste and see
  Voluntary: J. S. Bach, Prelude in G, BWV 541a
• 15:00 Choral Evensong (BCP) - Quire
  Sung by the choir of Bedford School
  Introit: Bruckner, Locus iste
  Responses: Radcliffe
  Psalm: 81
  Canticles: Howells, Collegium Regale
  Anthem: S. S. Wesley, Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace
  Sermon: The Director of Mission and Ministry
  Hymn: 20
  Voluntary: Howells, Psalm-Prelude (Set 1 No. 1)

Monday 21 July

• 08:30 Morning Prayer (CW) - Lady Chapel
• 12:30 Eucharist (CW) - Thomas Chapel
• 17:30 Evening Prayer (BCP) - Lady Chapel

Tuesday 22 July - Mary Magdalene

• 08:30 Morning Prayer (CW) - Thomas Chapel
• 12:30 Eucharist (CW) - Lady Chapel
• 17:30 Choral Evensong (BCP) - Nave
  celebrating the 10th anniversary of Bishop Rachel's consecration
  Introit: Duruflé, Tu es petrus
  Responses: Sumsion
  Psalm: 63
  Canticles: Brewer in D
  Hymns: As if, Lord, you are there, 393, 362
  Anthem: Bob Chilcott, Be thou my vision
  Sermon: The Bishop of Gloucester

Wednesday 23 July

Bridget of Sweden, abbess of Vadstena, 1373

• 08:30 Morning Prayer (CW) - Lady Chapel
• 12:30 Eucharist (CW) - Lady Chapel
• 17:30 Evening Prayer (BCP) - Lady Chapel

Thursday 24 July

• 08:30 Morning Prayer (CW) - Thomas Chapel
• 12:30 Eucharist (CW) - Lady Chapel
• 17:30 Evening Prayer (BCP) - Lady Chapel

Friday 25 July - James the Apostle

• 08:30 Morning Prayer (CW) - Lady Chapel
• 12:30 Eucharist (CW) - Thomas Chapel
• 17:30 Evening Prayer (BCP) - Lady Chapel

Saturday 26 July

Anne and Joachim, parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary

• 08:30 Morning Prayer (CW) - Sebroke Chapel
• 12:30 Eucharist (CW) - Thomas Chapel
• 15:00 Choral Evensong (BCP) - Quire
  Sung by the choir of St Peter's, Leckhampton
  Introit: Tavener, Mother of God, here I stand
  Responses: Radcliffe
  Psalm: 118
  Canticles: Wood in D
  Anthem: Haydn, Insanae et vanae curae
  Hymn: 243

Sunday 27 July - 6th Sunday After Trinity

• 08:00 Eucharist (BCP) - Chapel of St Paul
• 08:30 Morning Prayer (CW) - Zoom
• 10:15 Sung Eucharist (CW) - Nave
  Sung by Deryck Webb
  Setting: David Bednall, Mass for Solo Voice and Organ
  Hymns: 416i, 98, 505, 608
  Sermon: The City Rector
• 15:00 Evening Prayer (BCP) - Lady Chapel

Monday 28 July

• 08:30 Morning Prayer (CW) - Lady Chapel
• 12:30 Eucharist (CW) - Lady Chapel
• 17:30 Evening Prayer (BCP) - Lady Chapel

Tuesday 29 July

Mary, Martha and Lazarus, companions of our Lord

• 08:30 Morning Prayer (CW) - Lady Chapel
• 12:30 Eucharist (CW) - Lady Chapel
• 17:30 Evening Prayer (BCP) - Lady Chapel

Wednesday 30 July

William Wilberforce, social reformer; Olaudah Equiano and Thomas Clarkson, anti-slavery campaigners, 1833, 1797 and 1846

• 08:30 Morning Prayer (CW) - Lady Chapel
• 12:30 Eucharist (CW) - Lady Chapel
• 17:30 Evening Prayer (BCP) - Lady Chapel

Thursday 31 July

Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus, 1556

• 08:30 Morning Prayer (CW) - Lady Chapel
• 12:30 Eucharist (CW) - Thomas Chapel
• 17:30 Evening Prayer (BCP) - Lady Chapel