Lichfield Cathedral hopes to raise thousands for restoration with ‘Psalmathon’

All the choirs associated with the cathedral are getting involved in the event, which will take place on February 14 from 6.16pm to 10.45pm and February 15 from 7am to 9pm.

They will attempt to sing all 150 psalms over the two days in as many musical guises as they can, from plainchant, to Anglican chant, to responsorial psalmody and hymn paraphrases, to favourite composed settings such as Allegri’s ‘Miserere’, Mozart’s Laudate Dominum and works by Elgar, Schubert and Vaughan Williams.

Members of the public are being invited to remember their loved ones or celebrate a special event by sponsoring a dedication for particular psalms.

If people want to learn more about the Psalms of David they can come to the cathedral on February 5 for a free introduction and Q & A session with the Rev Canon Dr Peter Wilcox, author and canon chancellor of Lichfield Cathedral.

Patricia Collins, director of fundraising at Lichfield Cathedral said: “We are delighted that the Cathedral music community has chosen this innovative and uplifting approach to raising funds for essential work on the east end of the Cathedral, which provides the home for the beautiful Herkenrode Glass.

“The whole project includes the work of stone masons, scaffolding, glaziers, specialist consultants, metal workers and conservators – all very skilled occupations.

“We need to raise the balance of £880,000 this year to cover our commitment to restoring the Cathedral to its former glory for the benefit of the whole community and generations to come.”

The cathedral is hoping to raise £2,000 through the sponsorship of psalms for the evening.

To sponsor a psalm visit www.justgiving.com/LCpsalmathonTo donate to the East End appeal visit www.justgiving.com/eastendappeal