THE Bishop of Winchester has commissioned an independent review of Winchester Cathedral, it was announced late on Tuesday.
The review comes after weeks of allegations in regards to the conduct of the cathedral’s music department, and the resignation of the senior non-executive member of Winchester Cathedral Chapter, Mark Byford, a former head of the BBC World Service and its former deputy director-general.
A transient statement by the Bishop, the Rt Revd Philip Mounstephen, refers to this resignation, saying: “In the sunshine of that significant development within the cathedral’s governance, the Bishop has decided to commission an independent review, under the terms of the Cathedral’s Measure 2021, into the events which have led to this.”
The Dean of Winchester, the Very Revd Catherine Ogle, said this week that the cathedral’s music was “fundamental to our worship”.
Last week, Winchester Cathedral appointed an interim director of music, Andrew Lucas, from St Albans Cathedral, to succeed Dr Andrew Lumsden, whose unexpected resignation on 2 May triggered allegations in regards to the management of the cathedral’s music department.
A call for an independent review of the department got here from Toshi Ogita, a chorister and skilled singer who deputises for the lay clerks of Winchester Cathedral Choir. Last week, he wrote to Bishop Mounstephen, as questions across the circumstances of Mr Lumsden’s departure and the behaviour of the Precentor, Canon Andy Trenier, continued to surface on choral social-media sites and in sections of the press.
In his letter, Mr Ogita wrote: “It is heartbreaking that members of the congregation at Winchester are increasingly staying away from the place they need to come back to worship in, resulting from what they perceive as hypocrisy and gross mismanagement at the highest.
“The credibility of the Church as an establishment that provides protection from bullying and safeguards the welfare of those in its care is rapidly being destroyed.”
The disquiet began when the organist, George Castle, was made redundant in 2021, and one other organist, Claudia Grinnell, departed in March this 12 months, having been on the music staff since 2017. The complement of lay clerks is down from 12 to seven.
Mr Ogita contended: “Lack of swift motion is popping people away from the Church. The longer it continues, the more it reinforces the looks that any and all clergy related to the Cathedral and the Diocese are complicit on this.” He suggested that “Many staff feel threatened into silence for fear of job security.”
The Bishop of Winchester’s office confirmed last week that the Bishop had received Mr Ogita’s letter and can be responding. His chaplain said that, as with all correspondence, the response can be private.
The press has been largely reluctant to report hearsay, though the Hampshire Chronicle has kept abreast of developments. The Mail on Sunday, 4 weeks ago, said that Canon Trenier had been “accused of a dictatorial management style”. A report in Private Eye two weeks ago spoke of a “festering” conflict with lay clerks over payment rights and the Precentor’s refusal to follow Musicians’ Union guidance.
In a YouTube video looking forward to key summer musical events, Dean Ogle addressed concerns in regards to the way forward for choral music at Winchester, giving the peace of mind: “The music of worship is at all times at the guts of the Cathedral. It’s a part of our each day rhythm.”
She continued: “I recognise that with some significant staff changes at the moment, there’s some anxiety amongst some people in regards to the future direction of music at Winchester Cathedral. I need to say, really clearly, as Dean, that choral music is and can proceed to be at the guts of all that we do. It is precious.”
The chair of the Winchester Cathedral Old Choristers Association, Edward Bagnall, in a letter to the Hampshire Chronicle published on 6 June, expressed his “deep concern” in regards to the departure of Andrew Lumsden, writing: “We find it difficult to simply accept that he’s leaving voluntarily.”
Mr Bagnall also mentioned the decline within the variety of lay clerks. His letter asked whether the Cathedral had used non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) with staff prior to now six months. Their use has been called “unacceptable” by the Archbishop of Canterbury, who has previously said that they must be banned (News, 23 April 2021). Dr Lumsden has been silent in regards to the reason for his departure.
A series of meetings was held last week with the boys’ and girls’ choirs, and with the lay clerks. The nature and consequence of those has not been reported, but a full complement of boy and girl choristers is confirmed to have signed up for September.
The Church Times asked to talk Canon Trenier this week. Instead, Winchester Cathedral sent a press release to the Church Times on Tuesday. It said that it was continuing to take a position in the event of the choirs over the following 12 months. “The Chapter is already committed to some practical steps when it comes to investment and resourcing, to reply a number of the concerns, with a concentrate on constructing a positive future for choral music at Winchester Cathedral,” a press release said.
“Investment in music on the Cathedral will rise to as much as £850,000 this 12 months — a 36-per-cent increase since 2019/20 (before Covid) — with the majority of the budget increase invested within the important cathedral choir.”
The cathedral has pledged to fill all vacant posts as soon as possible, though “not on the expense of rigour and excellence”.
A recruitment process will now begin for a everlasting Director of Music, a second sub-organist, and all vacant lay clerk posts, to bring up the total complement of 12 adult singers. Consultation with the present lay clerks on the terms surrounding their contributions to choral excellence will probably be finalised by 1 July. The cathedral statement said: “This investment is on top of recently enhanced bursaries, training, music, and activities for the girl choristers.”
On Tuesday, Dean Ogle said: “The great Anglican choral tradition is key to our worship. We want that tradition to flourish, to grow in scale, and to be the technique of engaging and reaching more people.”
She spoke of appointing a youth choir director and expanding the cathedral’s schools outreach programme, Cathedral Crescendo.
As for the allegations of bullying and mismanagement, the cathedral statement said: “We want people to know we’re listening to the concerns expressed across the management of cathedral music, including concerns in regards to the culture. We are actively working on addressing these, and can communicate more within the near future.”
Dr Lumsden, who has been 22 years at Winchester, will leave the job on 31 July. He gave his last organ recital on Sunday afternoon. His final events are to incorporate the Southern Cathedrals Festival.
His interim successor, Andrew Lucas, is currently Master of the Music at St Albans Cathedral. He has been in post since 1998, during which period the cathedral choir has maintained its status, including through recordings and regular radio and tv broadcasts.
Dean Ogle described him as “ideally suited to the role . . . His work founding and dealing with a variety of choirs, including a youth choir and the St Albans Bach Choir, indicate his commitment to sharing choral music more widely.
“We are fortunate that, at this stage in his profession, Andrew has made himself available to us. We sit up for his regular and experienced hand guiding us on this time of change, and to welcoming him warmly into the Winchester Cathedral community.”
Mr Lucas, she said, would also “help construct strong bonds with the adult musicians, our chorister parents and their families”.
