Ealing Abbey Choir

Ealing Abbey Choir was founded in 1908 and remains one of the few remaining Catholic Churches to sing in an Abbey Church.

The Ealing Abbey Choir of Men and Boys is one of the U.K.'s premiere Catholic choirs. Their repertoire is drawn from the Catholic liturgical repertoire spanning four centuries, from Tudor England through Twentieth century works. The choir’s principal commitment revolves around the liturgy in the Abbey Church each week and especially during Christmas and Easter. Outside of the liturgy the choir is extremely active. The choir has recorded Bruckner’s motets with ‘Herald’, and Personent Hodie, a CD of music for Christmas; toured Barcelona, Switzerland, Rome, and Strasbourg to great acclaim, and given concert performances of Bach’s Saint John Passion, Handel’s Messiah, and Orff’s Carmina Burana at Cadogan Hall.

Ealing Abbey Choir was founded in 1908 by Dom Cyril Rylance (1880-1958), a monk of the monastery, coming into existence as the Catholic Church in England was rediscovering its musical heritage through the works of Renaissance composers and Gregorian chant. The choir’s repertoire of Gregorian chant and Latin polyphony is now enhanced by the inclusion of many works by twentieth century composers such as Howells, Duruflé, Messiaen, Taverner, and Jonathan Dove.