Church Music Associations

Associations concerned with music in churches as a whole which are of relevance to those interested in (traditional) cathedral music.

Royal School of Church Music

" The RSCM supports a world-wide network of 9,000 churches, schools and individuals. We are committed to achieving the best use of good music in worship – whatever the resources, whatever the style. Through education, training, publications, advice and encouragement, we aim to support church music today and to invest in church music for the future."

Guild of Church Musicians

"Under distinguished patronage the Guild was founded in 1888 as the Church Choir Guild. It was incorporated in 1905 to become known as the Incorporated Guild of Church Musicians . The foundation patrons were Archbishop Frederick Temple and Sir George Elvey, organist of St George’s Chapel, Windsor. The Guild is a fellowship of those who sincerely desire to offer the best in music to the service of the church, both amateur and professional musicians being unified in a common ideal. Membership is open to all members of the Christian Church."

Church Music Society

"Founded in 1906, the Church Music Society affirms the importance of music in worship and of the effective use of music appropriate to its proper liturgical use and thus strives always to sustain the Church&rsquot;s wonderful musical heritage. It also recognises and seeks to meet the constant demand for fine congregational music in a modern idiom, by encouraging those of today’s composers whose works evince the timeless qualities of refinement and style." Based in the UK.

Society of Saint Gregory

The Society of Saint Gregory is the "national society for liturgy and music in the Roman Catholic Church in the British Isles. It was founded in 1929, continues to flourish and is delighted to welcome Christians of any denomination who seek to achieve similar aims through liturgy, music and the arts."

Association of Anglican Musicians

The Association of Anglican Musicians is a US-based organization. "Recognizing that the music of the church finds its primary expression within the framework of the liturgy, this Association takes as its purpose the elevation, stimulation, and support of music and the allied arts in all their aspects in the Anglican church, and especially in their relationship to liturgy."

Association of Lutheran Church Musicians

US-based organization. " ALCM stands as a strong and successful service and professional organization, with membership close to 1500, dedicated to the cause of strengthening the ministry of music in the Lutheran Church. It serves through a wide range of publications, conferences, and local, regional, and national events. ALCM is widely recognized as a significant force in Lutheran church music."

L’Association des musiciens liturgiques du Canada

LAUDEM was formed in 1990 to bring together liturgical musicians for promotion and development of their ministry in the Roman Catholic Church. Now has 100 members drawn from 18 French-speaking dioceses in Canada.

MusicaSacra: The Church Music Association of America

"As the last council drew to a close in 1964, the American Society of St. Cecilia (1874) and the St. Gregory Society (1913) amalgamated to form the Church Music Association of America , as affiliated with the Consociato Internationalis Musicae Sacrae (Roma). The group's purpose is the advancement of music sacra in keeping with the norms established by competent ecclesiastical authority. 'The Society's quarterly journal Sacred Music is the oldest continuously published music journal of any kind in the country. Educational efforts such as the annual Liturgical Music Colloquium are aimed at assisting church musicians to maintain the highest artistic standards and preserve the treasury of sacred music, especially Gregorian chant, whilst encouraging composers to write artistically fine music, above all for more active participation of the people."

Foederatio Internationalis Pueri Cantores

Foederatio Internationalis Pueri Cantores is the Roman Catholic sponsored union of National Federations of "choirs of both sexes (girls and/or boys of school age) with or without men's voices, engaged principally in the service of the liturgy ... The FIPC can accept National Federations from other Churches and Christian Communities, which do not have full communion with the Catholic Church, as cooperators."