A group of young singers from Bath Abbey Girls’ Choir enjoyed an unforgettable few days in London after being invited to perform at Westminster Abbey.
Around 25 girls aged 11–18 travelled to the capital from 17–19 April, accompanied by lay clerks from Bath Abbey.
During their visit, they sang at four services across the weekend, performing to congregations totalling around 2,000 people in one of the country’s most iconic religious settings.
Huw Williams, Director of Music at Bath Abbey, said, “It was such a great privilege to be leading worship in such a famous and historic building, and so exciting to have a special behind-the-scenes tour of Westminster Abbey too during our visit.”
The trip also included a visit to Palace of Westminster, where the choir were invited by Wera Hobhouse.
During the tour, the group explored both the House of Commons and the House of Lords, learning how laws are made and gaining a deeper understanding of how Parliament works.
Away from their musical commitments, the girls made the most of their time in London with visits to Harrods and the Natural History Museum, as well as a boat trip to Tower Bridge.
They also enjoyed a picnic in Hyde Park and walks through Green Park and St James’s Park, taking in views of Buckingham Palace along the way.
Huw Williams added, “It was a packed and exciting weekend and the girls were buzzing when they went home. The visit to the Palace of Westminster was the opener to the tour and contributed to a very memorable and enjoyable weekend. It’s so important that they learn about our parliament and how democracy works in practice, thank you so much to Wera and her team for offering us this opportunity.”
Wera Hobhouse commented, “I was so proud to hear about the Bath Abbey Girls’ Choir’s invitation to sing at Westminster Abbey. They are such fantastic ambassadors for our city’s amazing musical talent.
“And it was wonderful to be able to get them along to Parliament during their musical tour. Their enthusiasm and eagerness to learn more about politics were really inspiring!”
