Songs of Praise for King’s choristers

On Easter Sunday, BBC1’s Songs of Praise and BBC Radio 3’s live Evensong service will both come from Chester Cathedral and we are looking forward to seeing six students and one of our teachers in the Cathedral Choir.  

After recording an episode of Songs of Praise at the Cathedral in February, King’s students and members of Chester Cathedral choir, Hettie Skyrme-Walker (J2B), India Skyrme-Walker (RMRL), Lydia Evans (RMRA), Ben Sharp (SHWER), Will Evans (4LES) and Peter Evans (U6LES), along with Head of Philosophy and Theology, Mr Rees were excited to find out that the episode will be aired on Easter Sunday.

The choristers enjoyed their day “on set” and their insight into how the programme is made, although with each hymn taking up to five takes, it was a much longer day than the 35-minute long episode might suggest.

Less than two hours after Songs of Praise airs on Sunday, 7 April, the choir will enjoy their second BBC appearance of the day when Radio 3 broadcasts Evensong live from Chester Cathedral. 

Headmaster George Hartley is looking forward to watching – and listening – on Sunday. 

He said: “As the original home of The King’s School, Chester Cathedral is very important to everyone in our school community and I am delighted that it has been chosen for this year’s Easter Sunday episode of Songs of Praise.

“Many of the students and staff who sing in the Cathedral Choir also play an active role in the musical life of our school, including singing at last week’s end of term Cathedral service. I was deeply moved by the music at our service and on Sunday, I will be a very proud Headmaster as they sing for the whole country on one of the most important dates in the Christian calendar.”

Songs of Praise, presented by Katherine Jenkins, will air on BBC1 at 1.15pm on Sunday, 9 April. The programme will be available on BBC iPlayer directly afterwards. 

Evensong from Chester Cathedral will be broadcast live on BBC Radio 3 at 3pm on Sunday, 9 April.

Thank you to Mrs Skyrme-Walker for these behind-the-scenes photographs: