Sheffield Cathedral will give the northern premiere of Gabriel Jackson’s Glory be to God for dappled things — a new setting of Gerard Manley Hopkins’ much-loved poem Pied Beauty — at Choral Evensong on Tuesday 14 October.
Commissioned by the Ouseley Church Music Trust to celebrate the 200th anniversary of its founder, Sir Frederick Arthur Gore Ouseley, the piece reflects Ouseley’s vision of nurturing the highest standards of choral music in cathedrals and churches.
The work was conceived for performance by a Cathedral Choir in partnership with a local school and is also being performed by the choirs of St Paul’s Cathedral, Exeter Cathedral, and Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford. In Sheffield, the Cathedral Choir is joined by Year 5 pupils from Prince Edward Primary School, a vibrant school serving families from the Manor estate. Prince Edward Primary recently became a Cathedral Choir School, joining Sheffield Cathedral’s developing network of partner schools and giving pupils the opportunity to experience the joy and discipline of cathedral music-making.
The reintroduction of choristers to Sheffield Cathedral’s choir in September 2025 marks a significant moment in the Cathedral’s musical life, building on the strong foundation of its adult singers and choral scholars. These young voices are drawn from a growing number of local partner schools, and opportunities remain open to talented children across the region.
This Evensong also marks the launch of Sheffield Cathedral’s new Music Board, which will help to guide the future of the Cathedral’s musical life — pursuing cultural partnerships, supporting education, and developing long-term sustainability. A key part of this vision includes plans to commission a new Cathedral Organ, a long-envisioned project first proposed in 1997.
Choral Evensong on 14 October will bring together children and singers from across the region, leading figures from Sheffield’s business and arts communities, and the new Bishop of Doncaster, the Rt Revd Leah Vasey-Saunders, who joins the Board. Together, they will celebrate a music department rooted in education, excellence, and the life of the wider community.