In 1995 some members of Wells Cathedral Voluntary Choir, led by the then Vice-Chairman, Lynne Browning, decided that it would be interesting to find out more about other Voluntary Choirs in the UK.
A survey was circulated together with a Survey letter April 1996 to all Anglican Cathedrals and all but eight replied. Sixteen replied with Survey responses no CVCs 1996. As a result of the findings (Synopsis of survey 1996 pt 1 and Synopsis of survey 1996 pt 2) a meeting was held in July 1996 at Wells Cathedral during which the Association of Cathedral Voluntary Choirs was formed.
Representatives attended from Derby Cathedral Voluntary Choir; Exeter Cathedral Voluntary Choir; Guildford Cathedral Occasional Singers; Rochester Special Choir; The Minster Chorale, Southwell; St Mary’s Singers, Truro; Wells Cathedral Voluntary Choir. After the meeting, a party was held at The Rib, next to the Cathedral. WELLS JULY 1996 – photos from the party at The Rib.
Minutes of first ACVC meeting July 1996 are added to this page for interest.
In April 1997 a record was created (ACVC at April 1997) of the forty nine Cathedrals who had been contacted over the previous year, and an Evensong and Inaugural Concert were held at Wells, details of which can be found under Previous Festivals.