Event Types

Festivals

This event is held in a different venue each year, hosted by a member Association. It is a weekend event, starting on Friday afternoon and ending Sunday, and is a chance for Old Choristers from all over the country, and indeed the world, to meet up and share friendship, good music and good hospitality, usually in stunning surroundings. Often an Association hosts a festival as part of a bigger celebration. This could be a major church event such as Canterbury, the spiritual home of the Anglican church hosting the Millennium festival in 2000, a milestone in their own Association such as Lincoln celebrating their Associations Centenary in 2006 or their Cathedral having a special celebration such as the 900th Anniversary of the Granting of the Charter which Carlisle hope to celebrate by hosting the Festival in 2033.

AGM

This previously took place on a Saturday in April, May or June, again hosted by a different Affiliated Association each year, and was like a mini-festival but confined to a single day. It was primarily a business day, giving member Associations the chance to send a delegate and have an input into the running of the federation, but also a social occasion where friends old and new catch up. However more recently it has taken place during the annual festival or in place of a festival, and has recently been held in September or October.

Moving forward the chair & secretary have got agreement from peterborough to host the AGM each year during their own reunion festival day. This opportunity allows us as a Federation to return to having multiple events per year and ensures a relatively central location for the AGM each year. The AGM day will include the ability to join Peterborough Cathedral Choir in singing choral evensong and a formal dinner with speeches in the evening.

Federation Tours

The Federation organised its first tour, looking at the Cathedrals of Paris & the Ile de France, in April 1996. They have now become an important part of the social activities of the Federation, happening every few years since. Up until 2007 they have been to destinations in northern Europe, including Belgium & the Rhine in 1999, the Châteaux of the Loire in 2001, Portugal in 2003 & Normandy in 2005.

In 2007, the sights were set much further a field, when the Association of Christ Church New Zealand invited the Federation to attend a festival to mark the Centenary of the founding of the Diocese there. Just over 40 Old Choristers and their wives ventured across to the other side of the world for a month in February, culminating in a mini Festival over the last weekend.

FCOCA Choir rehearse in the Christchurch Cathedral New Zealand

The 2008 tour marked a new venture by staying in the UK. We based ourselves in York and visiting the ‘Gems of Yorkshire’, looking at the varied parts of the largest county in England over the first week in September.

A tour of Ireland took place in the Spring of 2013. In 2015 we toured East Anglia, including Cathedrals, Fairground experiences, Stately houses & The Norfolk Broads

We are interested in offering tours or other events in addition to our Festival & AGM gatherings. If you would like to help organise or host such an event (such as in combination with other local Cathedrals, Colleges or Churches) then please let us know.

Calendar

2026

13th June • Peterborough Association's Reunion

27th September • Festival & AGM • Norwich

2027

Date TBC • Festival • St. Albans

Date TBC • AGM • Peterborough

2028

Date TBC • Festival • Westminster Abbey

Date TBC • AGM • Peterborough

2029

Date TBC • Festival • Venue TBC, Rochester?

Date TBC • AGM • Peterborough