Inverness Cathedral Choir, 2001

The Cathedral Choir 2001 with Provost Malcolm Grant (right), Russell Grant, Organist and Choirmaster (centre back), and Gordon Tocher, assistant organist, (extreme right, middle row). The clergyman at the back on the right-hand side is Rev. Gareth Saunders, and on the left is Rev Bob Morton. The photograph was taken on the steps of the main door of the Cathedral, shortly before Russell Grant resigned his position.<br /> <br /> The Scottish Episcopal Church has a long traditional of choral singing at its main services, especially on Sundays and Feast Days. St Andrew's Cathedral in Inverness established a choir soon after it opened in 1869. Traditionally the choir was all male, with the soprano line sung by boys. For a long time many of these boys attended the Boys' School which was next to the Cathedral. It is now amalgamated with the Bishop's Girls' School, to form Bishop Eden's School in King Street.<br /> <br /> The choir has always been voluntary. But for many years it was the tradition, as an incentive, to pay the choir boys a token sum for attending practices and services, and those who sang a solo on a Sunday would get a bonus. For those who got little or no pocket money at home this would be a special feature of their choir life.<br /> <br /> However in the twenty-first century it is very difficult to recruit enough boys who are willing to attend practices during the week as well as sing two Sunday services. As a result, the present-day voluntary choir is all adult, with soprano and alto lines sung by ladies. At the time of writing (2011) the Sunday morning Sung Eucharist is choral throughout the year, and from time to time, the Choir also sings Choral Evensong on a Sunday afternoon. The choir also sing at special weekday services, such as on Christmas Day and during Lent.