Music

Sacred music is not an accessory to worship. It is worship.

PEOPLE of faith have long recognised music’s power to draw the soul toward God. St John Chrysostom wrote that “nothing so uplifts the soul, gives it wings, sets it free from the earth, loosens the chains of the body, fosters true wisdom, and scorns all things of this world as concordant melody and sacred song composed in rhythm.”
Music belongs to this world, yet it draws the heart beyond it. It leads people into deeper truth.
At St Michael and All Saints, music is offered with skill, purpose, and reverence. Congregational singing, chant, choral music, and the sound of the organ shape the liturgy, giving it both structure and beauty.
This is music that asks something of those who make it and those who listen. It creates space to be still, to be moved, and to turn toward things that matter.

The Choir

ST Michael and All Saints is home to one of the finest non-professional choirs in the city. Under the Director of Music, and supported by a team of organists, the choir sings a wide-ranging repertoire, from Byrd and Victoria to Howells and James MacMillan.
One of the choir’s defining strengths is its flexible commitment. With no midweek rehearsals, singers meet for an hour before Mass, making it possible for those with busy schedules to take part. The standard remains high, attracting skilled singers drawn by both the quality of the music and the opportunity to sing with other talented musicians.
Repertoire for the choir is chosen with care—challenging, expressive, and deeply rewarding to sing. This is a place where singers give their full voice to music that demands and deserves it. Those drawn to this tradition find not just a choir, but a setting where their musicianship is valued and stretched.

For more information about joining the choir, use the contact form and select “Music” from the dropdown menu. →

Choral Scholarships

IN 2026, St Michael and All Saints is inaugurating a Choral Scholarship Programme. Up to eight scholars will join the choir for the 2026–27 season, singing regularly on Sunday mornings and at other principal services during the year.
The programme offers the chance to sing demanding repertoire to a high standard, in a church where both music and liturgy are taken seriously.
Full details of the programme, commitments, and application process are available below.

Read the Programme Information. →

Apply for a Choral Scholarship. →

The Organ

THE organ is central to the musical life of St Michael and All Saints. A versatile two-manual instrument with a moveable console, it offers both the refinement needed for accompanying small ensembles and the breadth of sound required for larger-scale repertoire.
Built in 1872 by Forster and Andrews in Scarborough, the organ was later rebuilt by Abbott and Smith in 1920 and Wood Wordsworth in 1966 before being installed at St Michael and All Saints in 1992 by Peter Wood. It retains the craftsmanship of its original builders while meeting the demands of a living liturgical tradition.
A team of experienced organists ensures that the instrument fully supports both the choir and congregational singing. They also give it a voice in its own right, whether through post-service voluntaries or the improvisations required at various points in the liturgy.

A Space for Music

BEYOND its role in worship, the church is also used as a concert venue, hosting a range of performances throughout the year. In addition to the organ, a fine 6ft Yamaha grand piano further expands the musical possibilities within the space.

Those interested in holding an event at St Michael’s are invited to contact the Church Administrator. Details can be found on the Contact Page. →

Mass Times

Sunday • 10:30 High Mass
A service with choral music, organ, incense, bells, and elaborate ritual Read more →

Wednesday • 11:00 Low Mass (Lady Chapel)

First Saturday of each month • 12:30 Rosary Mass

Celebrate

the Sacred Seasons

ST Michael and All Saints invites you to mark some of the most significant moments of the liturgical year with special services featuring glorious music from one of the finest choirs in the city, vibrant Anglo-Catholic liturgy, and preaching that speaks to the heart. Whether you’re a frequent attendee or joining for a special occasion, these events are sure to inspire.

All Souls

Sun 1 Nov • 15:00

One of the most ancient acts of Christian devotion: praying for the dead. At this richly ceremonial choral Vigil Requiem, Mass is sung for the departed, as friends and family are remembered by name.

Advent Carol Service

Sun 29 Nov • 18:00

The Church’s new year begins in expectation. Candlelight and stirring choral music accompany readings from Scripture that follow the promise of Christ’s coming soon.

Nine Lessons & Carols

Sun 20 Dec • 18:00

Nine lessons tell one enormous story, from the creation of the world to the birth of Christ. Between them, choir and congregation sing some of the best-loved carols of Christmas.

Christmas Eve

Thurs 24 Dec • 23:00

The waiting is over: Christ is born. The first Mass of Christmas celebrates the Nativity in the darkness of the night, when shepherds keep watch, angels sing, and a child is laid in a manger.

Christmas Day

Fri 25 Dec • 10:30

Christmas morning has a way of creating a sense of wonder, whatever your age. Joyful music fills the church as the Gospel proclaims the mystery of the manger: God with us, and hope born into the world.

Ash Wednesday

Wed 10 Feb • 19:30

Begin the forty days of Lent with the Imposition of Ashes, offered to all who wish to receive it. A solemn Mass with music reflecting the stark and searching character of Ash Wednesday.

Maundy Thursday

Thurs 25 Mar • 19:30

Song and ritual trace the events on the night before Jesus’ death, from the intimacy of the Last Supper to the abandonment in the Garden of Gethsemane. The Mass ends in stillness, with a vigil kept at the Altar of Repose.

Good Friday

Fri 26 Mar • 12:00

A Three-Hour Vigil marks the hours Jesus spent on the cross. Readings, preaching, haunting music, and periods of silence accompany the Passion across the afternoon, from crucifixion to death.

Easter Vigil

Sat 27 Mar • 21:00

One of the most dramatic services of the year, the Easter Vigil begins in darkness, as a new fire is kindled and the light of the Paschal candle fills the church. Evocative chants and the rites of Baptism carry the Vigil towards the first Mass of Easter.

Ascension Day

Thurs 6 May • 19:30

Forty days after Easter, the story changes direction. Ascension Day celebrates Christ lifted, body and soul, into heaven, with uplifting choral music for one of the great feasts of the Christian year.

Corpus Christi

Thurs 27 May • 19:30

On Corpus Christi, the Blessed Sacrament is carried in procession. With festal choral music, incense, and flower petals, the celebration of Christ’s presence moves out into the streets of Edinburgh.

St Michael

Wed 29 Sep • 19:30

Angels have been imagined in music for centuries. Celestial voices and heavenly harmonies accompany Evensong and Benediction in honour of St Michael, patron of this church.