World Premiere to Celebrate 150th Anniversary of the Boys and Lay Clerks Choir

Bath Abbey is excited to announce a world premiere on Saturday, February 1st, as part of the celebrations for the 150th anniversary of the Boys and Lay Clerks Choir. The choir will perform a specially commissioned piece by renowned composer Francis Grier during the 5:00 pm Evensong service. This unique event marks a milestone in the choir’s storied history, which dates back to 1875.

The new work, titled Psalm 67 (Deus Misereatur), is a tribute to the choir’s rich legacy and the exceptional talent of its singers. World premieres are rare and special occasions, and we invite you to join us for this memorable event. Share this celebration with friends and family and help honor the choir’s enduring contribution to music.

As part of the 150th anniversary celebrations, Bath Abbey has commissioned esteemed composers to write pieces for the choir, ensuring that future generations will recognise the Boys and Lay Clerks when performing these works. The Psalm 67 score will be dedicated to the choir, solidifying its place in musical history.

Looking ahead, Bath Abbey is hopeful that famed composer John Rutter will also be part of the anniversary festivities, with potential plans for involvement in the autumn, coinciding with the choir’s first performance on October 3rd, 1875.

Francis Grier is an acclaimed composer, former organist at Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford, and a prominent figure in both the musical and psychoanalytic worlds. His works have been celebrated internationally, including his setting of Psalm 150 for St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, and his 2006 Passion, which was hailed as a “modern masterpiece.”

Grier’s recent recordings include works performed by prestigious choirs, such as the King’s College Cambridge choir and the Chapel Royal, Hampton Court. He is currently working on compositions for performances in 2025 by Bath Abbey and Clare College, Cambridge.

Please join us for this extraordinary occasion as we honor the past, present, and future of the Boys and Lay Clerks Choir.