Welcome to the website of the Music Department of Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin
A message from the Director of Music, Judy Martin

Welcome! Here at Christ Church we maintain a centuries-old tradition of Anglican choral worship, with the daily round of Choral Evensongs, choral services for feast days of the Church's year and, of course, the Choral Eucharist on a Sunday.

We believe that music is the servant of the liturgy, that it seeks to enhance and lead the worship, rather than to overshadow it. Worshipping at Christ Church should be an experience that invigorates the senses. As you marvel at the glorious art and architecture, listen to the spoken word and share the peace with your neighbour, let the music act as an enabler to worship, provoking the deepest emotions through its setting of inspirational sacred texts. Our cathedral choirs sing more than two hundred services each year, covering an enormous variety of music, with very few repetitions. Although it is impossible to choose music that will speak to everyone at any one time, repertoire is always selected for its ability to enhance and communicate the text, bringing it to life. The congregationis always provided with a service sheet containing the text and any translation necessary, and this aids reflection and meditation at any time.

Both choirs constantly amaze me because of their commitment to each and every service - they really do give of their very best at all times. As a result, I am always looking for new ways to challenge them, and to keep this enthusiasm. One way of doing this coincides with our belief, as choirs, that we are part of the living heritage of Church music, and that we are responsible for both maintaining and renewing the tradition of liturgical choral music. To this end, the choir works to both perform and commission of works by 21st century composers, both from Ireland (and often in Irish) and from further afield.

I hope that you will enjoy your visit to our website, and that you will be able to discover the experience of a choral service at Christ Church for yourself very soon.