Celebrate Church Music and Musicians
Music Sunday – 15th June 2025

Why not add 15th June 2025 to the church diary now!

New for 2024! Put on your very own Big Hymn Sing for Music Sunday!

Why not join the livestream from All Saints’ Church, Loughborough on Sunday afternoon at 4.00 pm? Use this link HERE.

Your votes in our hymn poll produced a very clear winner – How shall I sing that majesty. This and the next 9 hymns all appear in the downloadable resource for churches to use for Music Sunday. See the box below.

The resources also include a new hymn written especially for Music Sunday by Dr Gordon Giles and Thomas Hewitt Jones, Sing to the Lord, a new song of creation. It is a wonderfully rousing five verse hymn with harmony for verses 2 to 4 and a soaring descant for the final verse. Listen to the Choir of Royal Holloway below and do make sure you stay to the end for the wonderful descant line! Of course, you might choose just to use this special new hymn from the pack.

What will your church do for Music Sunday?

Talk to your church now about doing something for Music Sunday 2024. It might be your own Big Hymn Sing for Music Sunday, or you might choose to hold special services, use special prayers, put on a concert or have a social event. Above all, do something to celebrate church music and the work of all church musicians.

Whilst celebrating Music Sunday can you or your church make a donation to support the work of the RSCM?

You can raise money for your church and the RSCM by holding a special collection, having a cake sale, a sponsored event or in a multitude of others way. Help us to continue to enable the flourishing of church music. You can find out more about the 50:50 campaign below.

Thank you to everyone who engaged with Music Sunday 2023 celebrating church music and thanking all of our church musicians.

It was great to hear of people coming together, the involvement of children, creative services taking place such as the one at Harnham, All Saints in Salisbury and of course all the fabulous music. If you missed Radio 4’s Sunday Worship from St Mary’s Cathedral, Glasgow do search for it on i-player and you can read the sermon, given by the Provost of the Cathedral, Kelvin Holdsworth, here. We love learning about what you did – if you haven’t already told us, do please let us know.

Do something big, do something small!

1. 1. Check out our suggested events below.
2. 2. Use the Music Sunday Toolkit to help you plan and advertise your event.
3. 3. Register your event to let us know you’re involved!
4. 4. Run and take part in your event or service.
5. 5. Send in the funds raised.

Why participate in Music Sunday?

Church Music and Musicians
There are so many special days in the calendar, but Music Sunday is a day to connect in spirit with the whole of the RSCM. It is heart-warming to know that churches around the country, and indeed the world, are focusing on the role of music in worship and the dedicated church musicians who lead this.

Community
In addition to this central aspect of Music Sunday, this year we really encourage you to reach out within the local community to bring more people together. This might be a local school or group, or generally within the population. This might be a combined service event or something entirely different. You might want to hold your Music Sunday event during the school week – do whatever will help you to achieve your goals.

Fundraising
Music Sunday is a great opportunity to fundraise for your own organisation as well as the RSCM, which we call the 50:50 campaign. Depending on the nature of your event this might be a special collection on the day, the proceeds from a sale, sponsorship money or profits from a concert. We encourage you to share the money 50:50 with the RSCM so that we can invest in the future flourishing of church music.

Remember to let us know what you are doing! Register your special service or event here.

NB. Music Sunday events are supported by the RSCM but all responsibility for the events and arrangements remain with the church concerned.

Churches participating in 2024 include;

(All Sunday 9th June unless specified)

St Oswald’s Church, Ashbourne – A Come and Sing Stanford Evensong conducted by RSCM Director, Hugh Morris. To find out more and book go to https://www.trybooking.com/uk/events/landing/58447? 

All Saints’ Church, Loughborough – The Big Hymn Sing – all are welcome to join the choir to rehearse at 14:30 and/or the service at 16:00. This service will be livestreamed. Big Hymn Sing – All Saints Church Loughborough (allsaintsloughborough.org.uk)

Dewsbury Minster – Big Hymn Sing  https://dewsburyteamparish.org.uk/

All Saints’ Church, Windsor – the Big Hymn Sing  https://www.windsorchurches.org.uk/all-saints-church/

Peterborough Cathedral – RSCM Award Holders Evensong – all welcome to join this Come and Sing Evensong

https://www.peterborough-cathedral.org.uk/

St Peter’s Church, Henfield, West Sussex – Big Hymn Sing as part of the Gardens and Arts Weekend.  https://henfield.org/

Aberlady Parish Church – A celebration of church music  https://aberlady-gullaneparishchurches.org.uk/ 

The Gransdens Church Choir – the Big Hymn Sing  https://www.bluebellbenefice.org.uk/

St Andrew’s Church, East Hagbbourne, Didcot – the Big Hymn Sing – join all the Benefice churches https://www.churnchurches.co.uk/

All Saints’ Church, Earls Barton – Summer Songs of Praise https://www.allsaintsearlsbarton.org.uk/

St James the Great, Flockton – Sunday Eucharist including some of the Big Sing items https://www.flocktonchurch.org/

St Mary’s Church, Ellesmere Port – Music Cafe with favourite hymns chosen by congregation and choir nb. 7th June

St Mary’s Church, Fordingbridge – The Big Sing nb. 30th June https://www.avonvalleychurches.org.uk/st-marys-fordingbridge

St Mary’s Church, Burry Port – Music Sunday Celebration bringing together different styles and traditions of church music for an evening of sharing and exploring (find them on Facebook)

St Mary’s Church. Welwyn – Evensong including Stanford and the new Music Sunday Hymn https://www.welwyn.org.uk/

All Saints’ Church, Siddington – join in with some of the hymns from the Big Hymn Sing poll winners https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/12813/

St Denys Church, Sleaford – nb. 2nd June – a Eucharist service with hymns and music chosen by the congregation https://www.sleafordparishchurch.co.uk/

St Mary’s Church, Finchley – join the congregation to sing the rousing new Music Sunday hymn https://stmaryatfinchley.org.uk/

St Michael’s Church, Ledbury – a Hymns of Praise morning service https://stmichaelsledbury.org/

Christ Church, Shamley Green – Celebrating RSCM Music Sunday with Congregational Favourites http://www.shamleygreen.org/

Holy Trinity Church, Rainow, with the St Christopher Chorale – join for a special service of Evensong https://www.rainowchurches.org/ https://stchristopherchorale.co.uk/

St Philip and St James’ Church, Whitton – two opportunities to join for the Eucharist service on 9th June or for the Big Hymn Sing for Music Sunday on the afternoon of 23rd June https://www.whittonchurch.com/

St Michael’s Church, Colehill – Cream Teas and Songs to Celebrate RSCM Sunday https://www.stmichaels-church-colehill.co.uk/

St John the Baptist, Wroughton and Winchelstowe – nb 16th June – the Big Hymn Sing – join us for an evening of hymn singing http://wroughton.com/

St Bartholomew, Whickham Bishops – the Big Hymn Sing – 10 great hymns plus the new Music Sunday hymn https://www.churchinwickhambishops.org.uk/

St Martin with St Peter, Worcester – Come & Sing Choral Evensong for Music Sunday https://www.stmartinsworcester.org.uk/

Much Wenlock Parish Church – nb 29th June the Big Hymn Sing A sponsored hymn sing of 100 favourite hymns! https://www.muchwenlockchurch.co.uk/welcome.htm

St Mary Magdalene, Tanworth in Arden – A choir recital after the morning service https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/7306/ 

St Mary’s Church, Shenley Church End – Come & Sing Choral Evensong https://www.watlingvalley.org.uk/who-we-are/st-marys-church-shenley-church-end

St Peter’s Church, Hale, Altrincham – Eucharist & Big Sing Songs of Praise https://stpetershale.org.uk/

All Saints’ Church, High Wycombe – Music Sunday Evensong https://www.allsaintshighwycombe.org/

St Peter’s Church, Great Berkhamsted – Choral Evensong https://www.stpetersberkhamsted.org.uk/

Bolton Parish Church – Hymns of Praise https://boltonparishchurch.co.uk/

Buckingham Parish Church – Eucharist service https://www.bpchurch.uk/

All Saints Parish Church, Streetly – Songs of Praise https://allsaintsstreetly.org.uk/contact-us/

Christ Church, New Mill – Choral Matins https://newmillpc.org.uk

St Mary’s, Old Swinford – Choral Evensong https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/18800/

Christ Church, Eaton, Cheshire – Music Sunday Morning Prayer https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/12764/

St Mary’s Church, Moseley, Birmingham – nb 7th July Eucharist and Evensong https://www.moseleychurch.org.uk/

All Saints’ Church, Friern Barnet – Clarinet Recital https://www.facebook.com/AllSaintsFriernBarnet/?locale=en_GB

St Bride’s Episcopal Church, Glasgow – Choral Eucharist for RSCM Sunday https://www.stbridesglasgow.org/

All Saints’ Church, Hough on the Hill – Music Sunday Songs of Praise https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/14732/

St Nicholas Church, Pluckley – two opportunities to join with this church a Big Hymn Sing in the morning and cream teas accompanied by local musicians in the afternoon. https://pluckley.net/village-life/st-nicholass-church/  

St Mary’s Church, Bideford – Hymns and Pimms, songs of Praise Service – A service of uplifting hymns/songs chosen by members of the congregation interspersed with readings https://stmaryschurchbideford.org/

Parish Church of St Peter and St Paul, Ringwood – RSCM Music Sunday Hymn Sing – six hymns/songs chosen by six church groups. Each hymn/song will be introduced by a member of each group and the hymns/songs will be interspersed with readings https://www.ringwoodbenefice.org.uk/st-peter-st-paul-ringwood 

St Edmund’s Church, Roundhay – Songs of Praise – https://www.stedmundsroundhay.org.uk/

The Parish Church of St Peter and St Paul, Great Missenden – Music Sunday and Celebration of our Church Musicians including the Youth Marimba Band https://www.missendenchurch.org.uk/

Christ Church, Thames View – Hymns We Love http://christchurch-thamesview.org.uk/

All Saints Church, Gosforth – Eucharist Service for Music Sunday https://www.allsaints-gosforth.org.uk/

St Dunstan’s Church, Mayfield, East Sussex – Hymn Sunday – We are encouraging the community to come along to sing the wonderful hymns suggested https://www.stdunstansmayfield.org.uk/

St Michael’s Church, Teignmouth – A special with hymns and an address by the Director of Music https://www.haldonteam.org.uk/index.php/our-churches/teignmouth-st-michael

St Lawrence Church, Eastcote, Pinner – A sung Eucharist that will be a service of praise and thanksgiving for the gift of music https://www.st-lawrence-eastcote.org.uk/

St Flannan’s, Killaloe, Ireland – the choir of St Mary’s Cathedral, Limerick, will celebrate St Columba’s Day and Music Sunday with Choral Evensong at its sister church https://st-flannans.weebly.com/

Old Catholic Church in Rotterdam, Netherlands – The Old Catholic Cathedral of St. Anna & St. Mary, Haarlem, and Old Catholic Church in Rotterdam will join together in Rotterdam for a special Choral Eucharist which will reflect on the value of music in worship https://paradijskerk.oudkatholiek.nl/2024/06/01/zondag-van-de-kerkmuziek-9-juni-2024/

Haarlem Anglican Church, Netherlands – Choral Eucharist followed by tea in the church room Welcome – Anglican Church Haarlem (anglican-church-haarlem.nl)

Christ Church Choir Castlemaine and Bendigo Chamber Choir, McKenzie Hill, Australia – Singers from Christ Church Choir and the Bendigo Chamber Choir will join to sing Will Todd’s ‘Jazz Missa Brevis’ as part of the Castlemaine Jazz Festival on Sunday June 9th. at 10am. https://www.castlemaineanglican.org/

Grace Episcopal Church, Madison, USA – Choir Recognition Sunday  – Choir members receive recognition for years of service, Telemann Laudate Jehovam with instruments, festive hymns and Handel organ concerto in B-flat https://www.gracechurchmadison.org/

The Cathedral Singers, New South Wales, Australia at St John’s Church, Gordon – Choral Evensong combined with King’s Birthday weekend