BBC South Today broadcast an item on the 14th September 2020 that featured the Boys choir with Andrew Lumsden on the occasion of the first sung Evensong since lockdown for covid-19 began 25 weeks previously on the 23rd March. It was stated that the Lay Clerks would return the next day and the Girls choirs that weekend. The Hampshire Chronicle of September 17th 2020 had an item about this, pointing out that there had not been such a gap in the Cathedral Music since the English Civil War (1642 – 1651). The Very Reverend Catherine Ogle, Dean of Winchester said “It’s marvellous to see the Choir back in the Cathedral and to hear choral music resound again in this ancient space”.
Some might recall that back in July of this year, Sheffield Cathedral announced the disbanding of their choir, a decision met with much angst. As of the time of this writing (September 2020), reference to that has disappeared from the Sheffield Cathedral website. No such threat emanated from Winchester, but the issue does underscore the importance of keeping the choral tradition alive.
The picture shows the Boys singing in socially distanced fashion (akn Hampshire Chronicle)