Choir House

The refurbishment of Canterbury Cathedral Choir House

There has probably been a Choir at Canterbury since the arrival of St Augustine in 597 AD. The present Choir can trace its origins back to 1540, when it was founded during the reign of Henry VIII. Choir House accommodates the twenty-five boy choristers, aged eight to thirteen, who live there during term time. It is a particularly historic building—the roof timbers date back to medieval times—but was urgently in need of renovation and refurbishment.

Generous donations to The Canterbury Gift, including a particularly large gift from The Bernard Sunley Charitable Foundation, enabled this £700,000 project to take place. The internal layout was reordered; the housemaster’s accommodation was re-built; a new music practice room was constructed (see below); new heating, plumb-ing, and wiring was installed; the dormitory was refurbished; and the garden was re-landscaped where it serves as an informal football pitch in the winter, and a cricket wicket in the summer! The project was completed on time, to budget, and Choir House was re-opened by Archbishop Rowan in April 2008.