"A call to love and service" at our 371st Festival

The 371st Clergy Support Trust Festival Service took place at St Paul’s Cathedral on Tuesday 12 May 2026, and welcomed over 1,500 guests.

It's the longest-running choral music celebration of its kind - having first taken place in 1655 - and to the best of our knowledge, the Festival Service has only been missed on two occasions: when we took the Service online during the COVID-19 pandemic, and during the 1940 London Blitz.

As well as an act of worship, the Service brings together cathedral choirs who would not normally get the chance to sing together. This year, we welcomed guest choirs from Blackburn and St Albans Cathedrals, as well as the return of St Paul's Cathedral Choir, who have graciously loaned us their time and talent for many centuries.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for this historic occasion, including the Bishops, Livery Masters and Stewards who took part in the procession; The Archbishop of Canterbury, The Most Revd and Rt Hon Dame Sarah Mullally for giving the sermon; and Joanna Gilbert, The Revd Rebecca Henney, The Revd Byung Jun Kim and The Revd Simon Springett for reading prayers as our intercessors.

We'd also like to extend a special thank you to The Revd Nikolas Gower and his wife, Heidi Gower, applicants to the Trust who shared a heartfelt testimony on the impact of our support on their family.

The combined choirs, performing at the West Doors

The choirs of Blackburn, St Albans and St Paul's Cathedral are dressed in white and red robes, and are singing together. They are led by Director of Music, Andrew Carwood MBE, and performing at the West Doors of St Paul's Catheral, surrounding the font.

The Archbishop of Canterbury

We were delighted to welcome our Honorary President, The Archbishop of Canterbury, The Most Revd and Rt Hon Dame Sarah Mullally as our guest preacher, to give this year's sermon.

Past guest preachers in recent years have included the Lord Bishop of Chelmsford, The Rt Revd Dr Guli Francis-Dehqani, and the Bishop of Gloucester, The Rt Revd Rachel Treweek.

"This evening, let’s acknowledge those who work hard among us and in the world to follow God’s call to love and service – whatever their role."
"I give thanks for the work of the Clergy Support Trust. I am hugely grateful for this ministry of service, just as I am hugely grateful for the costly ministry offered by clergy in so many different contexts. I also want to acknowledge and give thanks for the often unrecognised contribution and service of clergy spouses and families."

Read her sermon

The Archbishop of Canterbury, The Most Revd and Rt Hone Dame Sarah Mullally is giving the sermon, standing in a wooden pulpit.

The Revd Nikolas Gower

Heidi Gower

Our processing Stewards of the Festival

Our Stewards are dressed formally, and walking from The Chapel of St Michael and St George to the main aisle of the cathedral, carrying wands (long, wooden ceremonial poles) in their right hands.

Become a Steward

Stewards play a key historic role in the Festival Service, and have done so for hundreds of years. A longstanding tradition, Stewards process through St Paul's Cathedral, carrying ceremonial sticks - or 'wands' - alongside Bishops, the Masters of Livery Companies and representatives of the City of London.

"Since the seventies, it's very rare that I ever miss the Festival. It's part of my heritage. It's part of my DNA. It's always an event of great interest and excitement and reunion. And of course, the most wonderful choral music, my greatest joy."
Luke, a longstanding Steward

For an annual donation of £75, our Stewards:

Access brilliant priority seating
Join the ceremonial procession
Have their support celebrated in our Order of Service
Are invited to high profile events, such as receptions with our Chief Executive
Support our work with thousands of Anglican clergy and their families

Find out more

The combined choirs, performing beneath the Dome

The interior view of St Paul's Cathedral, as seen from the Dome, looking down from the Whisper Gallery. Three choirs, dressed in white and red robes, perform together.

The combined choirs of Blackburn, St Albans and St Paul's Cathedral are led in song by the Director of Music, Andrew Carwood MBE.

St Albans Cathedral Choir are dressed in white and red robes, singing together from their song books.

The 371st Festival Dinner

In the evening, we welcomed over 140 guests to Plaisterers' Hall for the Trust's annual charity dinner.

We were treated to good company and good food, with a delicious two-course meal of roast pork belly, sea bass fillet or tomato and white bean stew, with a dessert of chocolate cremeau or a fruit platter.

Speeches were made by our Chair (Senior Treasurer), Richard Farmbrough and our Chief Executive, The Revd Ben Cahill-Nicholls - while our Honorary President, The Archbishop of Canterbury, The Most Revd and Rt Hon Dame Sarah Mullally highlighted the Church of England's recognition of the growing need facing their people, and the contribution of Clergy Support Trust.

Tony Cook, Assistant Director of Education for the Diocese of Bath and Wells, spoke about Life to the Max and Family Max, activity residentials that the Trust are privileged to fund, bringing together clergy children of all ages for a weekend of campfires, active archery and tobogganing, while they share their unique experiences of growing up with clergy parents with other children who understand.

To mark our continued friendship with The Worshipful Company of Musicians, and the vital support of the City of London's Livery Companies as a whole, we were treated to live music from the Elijah Jeffery Quartet. You can watch a clip of this performance on Instagram.

The Revd Ben Cahill-Nicholls is dressed in a black suit and standing behind a podium. He is addressing a room of seated guests. A grand, bright chandelier is hanging from the ceiling.

The interior of Plaisterers' Hall. Paintings of past Livery Masters are hung in golden frames. A grand chandelier hangs from the ceiling. Seated guests are listening to a speaker, stood on stage at a podium.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, The Most Revd and Rt Hon Dame Sarah Mullally is addressing a hall of seated guests.

View the full Service photo gallery

View the full Dinner photo gallery

Please note that the images are for viewing only. If you wish to use them personally, such as on social media, or professionally, such as in the press or to accompany an article, please email our External Relations team at hello@clergysupport.org.uk

NOTES FOR EDITORS

Photo credit: Clergy Support Trust.

Clergy Support Trust is the largest and oldest charity focussed on the wellbeing of clergy and their families. The Trust, originally founded in 1655, provides confidential help for Anglican clergy and their families across the UK, Ireland, Isle of Man, and Diocese in Europe.

The Trust are confidential, independent, inclusive, and impartial, and we support clergy from training through to retirement. In 2025, we supported over 2,900 households with more than 7,000 grants. We also run the oldest annual choral music event in the world, which has been hosted by St Paul's Cathedral on 371 occasions.

For media enquiries, please email our External Relations team at hello@clergysupport.org.uk.

We would like to express our grateful thanks to the sponsors of our 371st Festival Dinner, CCLA Investment Management, and Charles Stanley.