Organ Scholar

Candidate Information PackOrgan Scholar April 2026www.carlislecathedral.org.ukDear Applicant,Thank you for your interest in joining the team at Carlisle Cathedral.  Welcome to Carlisle Cathedral, a vibrant community of faith that has stood at the heart of this border city for over900 years. As the historic seat of the Bishop of Carlisle and the mother church of the Diocese, the Cathedral offersan inspirational space for worship, prayer, rest, and reflection. We welcome all; curious visitors, faithful pilgrims,regular worshippers, and all who seek a place of conversation, creativity, and belonging. Worship is the beating heartof our life together, from which flows our commitment to justice, community, care, and the proclamation of God’stransforming love to the city, county, and beyond. Today, the Cathedral continues to thrive as a place of heritage, service, and spiritual encounter. With around 50members of staff, over 160 volunteers, and more than 150,000 visitors each year, we remain deeply engaged withthe life of the city and region we serve. Through a rich programme of worship, events, learning, and communityengagement, we invite all to share in the life of Carlisle Cathedral. Inspired by our Augustinian heritage, we seek tobe a community shaped by faithful worship, active discipleship, outward‑looking mission, life‑long learning, and joyfulcelebration. Whoever you are, and wherever you come from, you are most welcome here.WelcomeThe Organ Scholar at Carlisle Cathedral is a key member of a thriving and historic music department, playing anactive role in the Cathedral’s rich choral tradition while developing advanced skills in accompaniment, liturgicalplaying, and choir training. Working closely with the Canon Precentor, Director of Music and Assistant Organist, thescholarship role offers exceptional hands-on experience supporting daily worship, mentoring young singers, andcontributing to the wider musical and spiritual life of the Cathedral. With access to a fine four-manual Willis organ, regular organ lessons, accommodation, and the opportunity to growwithin a supportive and aspirational environment, this scholarship provides an outstanding foundation for anemerging musician.We hope you find this information helpful and look forward to receiving your application.Yours FaithfullyMichael EverittDeanwww.carlislecathedral.org.ukThe Chapter gives strong financial support to the Cathedral’s music department to maintain the Cathedral’s AnglicanChoral Tradition. Sunday worship is supported by the Cathedral’s Boys’ and Girls’ Choir who sing with 6 Lay Clerks.The Cathedral Consort of teenage singers sing once a week and on occasional Sundays. Choristers are recruitedduring Year 3 from local primary schools. Choral Evensong is sung each weeknight except Saturdays.Over recent years we have seen the musical life of the Cathedral flourish with considerable growth in the CathedralChoirs offering us the opportunity to engage with the families – drawn from communities and schools acrossCarlisle and the surrounding area. We recognise that our musical life offers a wonderful missional opportunity to theCathedral not just to those drawn to the services we offer, but to the singers and families who, through thecommitment and hard work, underpin this vital and vibrant aspect of Cathedral life.Music is overseen by the Canon Precentor. Operationally, it is under the direction of the Director of Musicsupported by the Assistant Organist and Music Administrator. There is a valued school outreach programme.Development of endowment funding for music has been identified as an important medium-term aim.The Music Departmentwww.carlislecathedral.org.ukThe Cathedral ChoirCarlisle Cathedral Choir dates back at least as far as the new foundation of the Cathedral in 1541. The CathedralStatutes of 1545 provided for six choristers, ‘boys of tender age, and with sonorous voices and apt atchanting’.Today, over four and a half centuries later, the choir includes around sixteen boy choristers, a slightlyhigher number of girl choristers, and six regular lay clerks with additional freelance musicians.Until 1935 the choristers were educated at the Cathedral’s own choir school; today the children are recruited fromlocal day schools, and each set of choristers attends the Cathedral on alternate Sundays and on two weekdays. Theboys sing on Tuesdays and Fridays after school, the girls on Mondays and Thursdays. On special occasions such asChristmas and Easter the boys and girls may sing together, but for the majority of the time they work independentlyof each other.In years gone by the choir has given performances in Latvia, Portugal, France, Hungary, Germany, Ireland, Norway,Poland and the USA. The choir has broadcast Choral Evensong on BBC Radio 3 and made four CDs. The Cathedral ConsortThe choir currently consists of around nine boys and ten girls of secondary school age, many of whom are formerchoristers.The choir’s main role is to rehearse for and sing evensong every Wednesday, and in addition they sing ona number of Sundays and at other special services during the year. The choir also sings in the Cathedral choirconcerts. The choir has previously toured internationally. Carlisle Cantate Children’s ChoirCarlisle Cantate Children’s Choir is the Cathedral’s community choir for 8-18 year olds, and comes under theauspices of Singing Out, the Cathedral Outreach Programme. The choir is directed by the Assistant Organist andsings a varied repertoire across many genres of music including jazz, classical children’s songs, musicals, popular andfolk.The Music DepartmentChoral ServicesChoral evensong is normally sung every weekday (Monday to Friday) at 5.45pm.On Sundays the main CathedralEucharist is at 10.30am, with Choral Evensong at 3.00pm.The basic pattern is for the girl choristers to sing Evensong with the Lay Clerks on Thursdays, and for the boychoristers to sing evensong with the Lay Clerks on Fridays. The Cathedral Consort sings evensong onWednesdays. The Lay Clerks sing ATB evensong on Monday or Tuesday each week, while the choristers have alonger rehearsal for the forthcoming week’s music.Sunday services are sung by either the girls or boys, with the Lay Clerks.The treble line alternates, so that the boychoristers and girl choristers each have one Sunday on duty followed by a free Sunday. On two Sundays each term, the Eucharist is an all-age Plus Eucharist which involves both the boy and girlchoristers, the Senior Girls and the Cantate Children’s Choir. The Cathedral OrganThe Cathedral Organ is a fine four-manual instrument, which includes pipe work created by “Father” Willis in1856. It is an exciting and versatile instrument, rewarding both for choral accompaniment and solo playing.The earliest surviving reference to an organ in Carlisle Cathedral is in an inventory of 1571. New instruments werecommissioned in 1661, 1684 and 1806. In 1856 Henry Willis was commissioned to build a new instrument (hissecond Cathedral commission). The specification was prepared by the then Master of the Music, Dr Henry Ford,and W T Best, a celebrated recitalist and native of Carlisle.Rebuilding of the Willis instrument took place in 1907 (Harrison and Harrison) and 1962 (when J W Walker andSons tonally remodelled much of the pipe work). In 1995 David Wells of Liverpool undertook a major restorationof the instrument which included steps to regain some of the Father Willis/Harrison character of the organ.In 2026, Carlisle Cathedral launched a major campaign to secure the future of its historic organ and music ministry.The project is about careful renewal: securing the long-term health, reliability and musical integrity of an instrumentof national significance, ensuring it can continue to serve worship, education and cultural life for decades to come.Further information regarding the Organ Project can be found here: https://carlislecathedral.org.uk/heavenly-voices-mighty-sound/ www.carlislecathedral.org.ukThe Music Departmentwww.carlislecathedral.org.ukThe RoleThe Chapter (governing body) of Carlisle Cathedral wish to offer an Organ Scholarship for the academic year 2026-27. The scholarship will be for one year in the first instance, with the possibility of a further year by mutual agreement. The successful scholar will be a key member of the Cathedral Music Department and will play an active part in allaspects of the musical life of the Cathedral, learning and developing important skills in the process. The organscholar will accompany the Cathedral choirs for a number of services each week and will assist the Cathedral’sDirector of Music and Assistant Organist in training the choirs and in the general administration of the MusicDepartment. Accommodation will be provided by the Cathedral. Utility bills will be paid, up to a reasonable amount.The Organ Scholar will:have a commitment to, and some understanding of, the role of music in cathedral worship.be a skilled organist, with experience in accompaniment, solo playing and extemporization.have some ability to engage, train and inspire a choir.be able to manage children in a firm but kindly manner.be a team player with an enthusiastic and positive approach.be supportive of colleagues, and able to contribute to his or her own personal development.Commitment to work with the Christian values and ethos that inform the life and work of the Cathedral, includingunderstanding of, and respect and sympathy for, the complexities and sensitivities of a unique institution. The Organ Scholar must also understand the importance of remaining sensitive to the Cathedral’s primary purposeas a place of worship. The scholar must endorse and implement the Cathedral’s safeguarding policies in respect ofchildren and adults at risk of abuse, neglect or harm.www.carlislecathedral.org.ukThe RoleDuties and ResponsibilitiesThe Organ Scholar will be responsible for:As Organ ScholarTo play the organ and accompany the choir for a number of the regular services at which the choirs sing. As aminimum, the Organ Scholar normally plays for the Cathedral Consort evensongs on Wednesdays and for oneor more of the Lay Clerks’ evensongs, and for any other services sung by the Cathedral Consort (for example,the occasional service on a Sunday).To attend, and to accompany the choir as necessary, at the rehearsals immediately preceding these services.To devote sufficient time to personal organ practice to maintain a standard of excellence in choralaccompaniment, voluntaries, extemporization and liturgical playing.To play the organ for a variety of extra services and events as required, according to the Organ Scholar’scurrent stage of development.To be present as required at the choristers’ rehearsals, and to assist with training the probationers or choristersin small groups.To assist with the supervision of choristers before practices.To be responsible for the maintenance of the Cathedral Music library and to administer the system fordistribution and collection of choir copies for each service.To assist with the general administrative work of the Music Department and to attend weekly Department staffmeetings.To attend and assist at the voice trials days each year (usually two Saturdays in May or June), and to be involvedin the recruitment process preceding these days.To deputise for the Assistant Organist, either in his absence or in the absence of the Director of Music.www.carlislecathedral.org.ukThe RoleDuties and ResponsibilitiesSafeguardingSafeguarding is the Cathedral Chapter’s highest priority. The Organ Scholar must endorse and implement theCathedral’s safeguarding policies in respect of children and adults at risk of abuse, neglect or harm.To support Chapter on the delivery of the Safeguarding Policy and Procedures and the relevant policies. Carlisle Cathedral operates an active Safeguarding Policy. The successful candidate will be required to completea declaration form regarding any convictions, in line with the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) rules onfiltering (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dbs-filtering-guidance). They must also agree to anEnhanced DBS Disclosure and to subscribe to the DBS Update Service.All information provided will be treated with the strictest confidence and will not be used to unfairlydiscriminate against applicants. All forms and related data will be stored securely and in full compliance with theGeneral Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.OtherAll Cathedral employees and the Organ Scholar are subject to completion of the Cathedral’s safer recruitmentprocess to the level appropriate for their position. Undertaking any other duties as may reasonably be requiredfor the role. To undergo any training deemed necessary to fulfil the role of Organ Scholar. To be mindful at all times of promoting and living out the cathedral’s values.To comply with and enforce all Health and Safety policies and procedures. To treat visitors and volunteers in a friendly, tactful and helpful manner. To be always an excellent ambassador for the Cathedral. Key RelationshipsCanon PrecentorDirector of Music Assistant Organist Music Administratorwww.carlislecathedral.org.ukSafeguarding is at the centre of everything we do atCarlisle Cathedral. Ultimate responsibility for safeguardingsits with the Dean with day-to-day responsibility delegatedto the Chapter Safeguarding Lead, who at present is theCanon Warden. The Chapter Safeguarding Lead is then supported by theDiocesan Safeguarding Officer who offers professionalsupport and advice to the Cathedral on all safeguardingmatters. SafeguardingWithin the day-to-day life of the Cathedral, we work to ensure that all members of the Cathedral team understandand contribute to our shared calling to keep everyone in our care safe. All members of the team are safely recruitedto a level relevant to their role. This robust process includes the completion of the appropriate level of safeguardingtraining, and where appropriate, Disclosure and Barring Service checks. Staff and volunteers then receive ongoing training. This is delivered through safeguarding refresher training at theannual INSET day, as well the relevant appropriate safeguarding training required for the role. The work ofSafeguarding is also monitored by the Diocesan Safeguarding Advisory Panel and, within the Cathedral, by Chapterand the Audit and Risk Committee. Challenge and support for the Chapter Safeguarding Lead isalso provided by the Cathedral Lay Safeguarding Lead. Thisis currently Julie Clayton who is the Chief-Executive of alocal hospice. She acts as a point of contact for allsafeguarding matters, independent of the structures of theCathedral or Diocese. She also chairs the CathedralSafeguarding Group which draws membership from all thedifferent communities and groups which make up Cathedrallife to discuss and develop our safeguarding practice.At the Cathedral we are also acutely aware of the way inwhich the whole Church has failed those who we shouldhave had care for. Knowing this we work closely withadvocates of Victim-Survivors and all who have beenaffected by abuse to lament, listen and learn from them.Both through our annual Safeguarding Season and throughthe whole year we seek to better respond to our call tosafeguard all who are known and cherished and made in theimage of God. www.carlislecathedral.org.ukTermsThe appointment will be for one year in the first instance, with the possibility of a further year by mutualagreement. The Organ Scholar receives an annual bursary of £4,000 paid monthly. The Organ Scholar may be able tosupplement the bursary with some paid work elsewhere, and any such work should be discussed andagreed with the Director of Music in advance. Additional fees may be payable for weddings and funerals.Carlisle Cathedral / Carlisle Cathedral Office West Walls, Carlisle CA3 8UF. Accommodation is provided in the Cathedral grounds; Council tax and water rates are paid for byChapter. Electricity and gas are also paid up to a reasonable limit. Regular Organ lessons will be provided at the Cathedral by the Assistant Organist and or the Director ofMusic.The duties at the Cathedral will necessitate residence for periods outside normal academic terms,primarily around the Easter and Christmas seasons.  The organ scholar will be entitled to one day offeach week (normally Saturday), and five weeks’ holiday (one week after each of Christmas and Easter,and school half terms) in addition to the summer break.Carlisle Cathedral is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to safeguarding and promotingthe welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to sharethis commitment. Applicants must be willing to undergo a DBS check and any other safeguarding checksand training as appropriate. The appointment will be subject to the satisfactory outcome of these checksand successful training. Dependent upon the receipt of two satisfactory references and a successful safer recruitment process.The role profile is an operational document that does not form part of your appointment. It may be thatfrom time to time you are expected to perform tasks that may not be expressly in the role profile butare nonetheless necessary in the day-to-day performance of your duties. Carlisle Cathedral reserves theright to amend the role profile as may from time to time be necessary to meet the changing needs of theorganisation. The post is subject to a four-month probationary period.www.carlislecathedral.org.ukScholarshipBursaryLocationAccomodationOrgan LessonsAnnual HolidayOffer ofScholarshipOtherReviewwww.carlislecathedral.org.ukOur Mission, Purpose & ValuesOur MissionCarlisle Cathedral is a community of prayer, welcome and rest for all to encounterthe love of God in Jesus Christ.Our PurposeFor centuries, Carlisle Cathedral has been a living Christian community, seeking God and bringing rest torestless hearts amid the ever-changing history of our borderlands. We steward this place and its rich heritage for the city, county and diocese we serve. We are entrustedwith the stories it holds. We are called to use this inheritance as we seek to tell anew the love of God inJesus Christ for current and future generations. As the seat of the Bishop of Carlisle, we are a sign of unity, committed to deepening our life of prayer andworship while embracing new ways to build a sustainable and hope-filled future. We welcome all – visitors, travellers and pilgrims alike – inviting them to experience the transformingtruth and presence of God. Through the stories of God’s love and the richness of Cumbrian life andheritage, we seek to inspire and uplift all who we encounter.Our ValuesOur values are drawn from the original foundation of the Cathedral based on the Rule of St Augustine. Hiswords underpin our daily pattern of prayer and radiate out into all aspects of our life.TruthWe uphold honesty,integrity and humility for“the heart is illumined when it hears: God is truth”.UnityWe work together for ashared purpose, caring forone another as members ofthe Cathedral communitywith “one mind and hearton the way to God”.LoveWe serve all withcompassion, hospitality and kindness “to love God and ourneighbour in all we do”.www.carlislecathedral.org.ukOur Vision & Strategic AimsVision 2026-2030Building on more than 900 years of prayer,worship and discipleship, to create a vibrant,sustainable future for our community,buildings, heritage and music to enableeveryone to take their next step with God.Strategic Aims 2026-2030 We will strengthen the Cathedral as aplace of prayer and a centre ofexcellence in worship and mission toenable all to grow in God’s love.We will nurture our staff and volunteersto develop and flourish in their roles.We will welcome successive generationsto be inspired and transformed throughengagement with the Cathedral and ourregion’s heritage.We will establish the Cathedral at theheart of the region’s musical and culturallandscape.We will develop a sustainable, holisticfinancial model, maximising the potentialof the Cathedral’s fabric, endowment andcommercial activities. We will deepen our relationship with thepeople and communities of the Dioceseand county through prayer andpartnership.www.carlislecathedral.org.ukOur Peoplewww.carlislecathedral.org.ukOur PeopleAt the heart of the Cathedral’s life is a small group committed to sustaining the daily offering of prayer and worship.The resident members of Chapter, the Dean and two Residentiary Canons, prioritise this core calling, joined eachday by others who share in the rhythm of worship.Chapter as a whole provides the strategic leadership and governance for the Cathedral, and the Senior ManagementTeam alongside a dedicated and committed team of staff and volunteers deliver the Cathedral’s day‑to‑dayoperations. Chapter’s programme of activity shapes the ways in which the Cathedral engages with visitors, schools andcommunities to promote public engagement with our history, faith and collections. Chapter aims to make asignificant contribution to the City’s cultural and heritage economies.The Cathedral’s commercial activities, catering/retail sales/events, are overseen by the directors of the Cathedral’strading arm (Carlisle Cathedral Enterprises Ltd - CCEL). www.carlislecathedral.org.ukHow we are organisedThe Cathedral employs a mix of full-time and part-time personnel. We have a superb variety of skills and experiencein music, administration, finance, commerce, marketing, fundraising, event-management, education, hospitality,visitor-facing activities and maintaining our historic buildings.We also have dedicated and enthusiastic volunteers, who are passionate about the Cathedral and willing to providetheir time as welcomers, guides, gift shop, events, education and heritage learning, historic collections and bellringing activities. Please see below for our current structure.Organogram The History of Carlisle Cathedralwww.carlislecathedral.org.ukCarlisle Cathedral has stood at the heart of the city for over 900 years and remains an active place of worship withinthe Church of England today. While it is a site of great historical significance, it is first and foremost a living church,where daily prayers, services, and community gatherings continue a tradition of Christian worship that dates backcenturies.Founded in 1122 as an Augustinian priory, the Cathedral’s origins reflect its deep spiritual foundations. TheAugustinian canons who established it lived a life of both contemplation and service, committed to prayer, education,and pastoral care. When the priory was elevated to cathedral status in 1133, it became the seat of the Bishop ofCarlisle, a role it continues to hold within the Diocese of Carlisle today. As one of the Church of England’snorthernmost cathedrals, it serves a diverse and widespread community, welcoming worshippers, pilgrims, andvisitors from across the region and beyond.The Cathedral has weathered many changes over the centuries, shaped by Carlisle’s position near the border withScotland. It has stood through conflicts, including the medieval wars between England and Scotland, and was closelylinked to Carlisle Castle, a key military stronghold just a short distance away. The Dissolution of the Monasteries inthe 16th century saw the loss of many of its monastic buildings, and during the English Civil War, stones from theCathedral were taken for military use. Yet, through each challenge, it remained a place of worship, adapting andenduring as part of the evolving English Church.Today the Cathedral continues to be a centre of worship, learning, and community life. It holds regular services,including daily prayers, Eucharist, and choral worship, upholding the traditions of the Church of England while alsoembracing new ways to serve the people of Carlisle.Its breathtaking medieval architecture, including the Gothic East Window (which recently was named as the“Nation’s Favourite Stained Glass Window”) and the beautifully painted ceiling, provides an inspiring space for bothpersonal reflection and collective worship. The Cathedral is also an active supporter of education and outreach,working with local schools, charities, and faith groups to engage with the wider community. Carlisle’s history as a railway city, which brought prosperity in the 19th century, helped ensure the Cathedral’spreservation, and today, it remains a welcoming space for all who seek spiritual nourishment, history, or quietreflection. Situated near Hadrian’s Wall, Carlisle Castle, and the city’s railway station, it serves as a lasting symbol offaith and resilience, carrying forward its mission as a beacon of worship and witness in the Church of England.www.carlislecathedral.org.ukwww.carlislecathedral.org.ukThe Cathedral OfficeThe Cathedral Office is situated on West Walls, adjacent tothe Cathedral, in the former Carlisle Diocesan Office(Church House). The premises is owned by the CarlisleCathedral Development Trust (CCDT) and was fullyrefurbished in 2022. The History of Carlisle CathedralThe Fratry Hall and Cathedral CaféIn mediaeval times the Fratry building was the dining hall of the Cathedral Priory. The £3.5 million Heritage Lottery Fund partner project brought this world-class, Grade I listed building back to lifeand made it ready to serve the City, the County and its visitors. The project focused on the physical heritage of theFratry building, and its relationship to the wider Cathedral precinct, the library collections, and on the social,political, religious and archaeological heritage they can reveal. The Fratry is one of the most important historic buildings in Carlisle and one of the few remaining monasticrefectories in the country. Our award-winning Café, which opened in summer 2020, sits at the heart of the precinct in the footprint of themedieval cloister, with unrivalled views of the Cathedral. The Café is open daily for hearty homemade food, cakes,coffee and more. For an informal discussion about this role, please contact:The Revd. Canon Pete Gunstone, Canon Precentor - canonprecentor@carlislecathedral.org.ukTel: 01228 582810For any questions regarding the application process, please contact:Elinor Tredgett, HR Officer - hr@carlislecathedral.org.uk Tel: 01228 479225To apply, please send: Letters of application (outlining the reasons for applying and suitability for the scholarship), together with a CV andthe names of two referees, should be addressed to: Mrs. Elinor Tredgett,HR OfficerCarlisle Cathedral Office, West Walls, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA3 8UF. Alternatively, they may be sent by email to hr@carlislecathedral.org.ukAll applications should be clearly marked: Confidential – Organ ScholarClosing Date Monday 4 May 2026 at 5pm.thwww.carlislecathedral.org.ukApplication Process and Interviewwww.carlislecathedral.org.ukFurther InformationCarlisle Cathedral is an Equal Opportunities EmployerCarlisle Cathedral is committed to safeguarding & protecting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults.Applicants must be willing to undergo the relevant safeguarding checks including checks with past employers and theDisclosure and Barring Service, appropriate to the post.Further information is available on our website www.carlislecathedral.org.ukOur Governance and Finance information, including a link to our Annual Report and Accounts, and our Constitutionand Statutes can be found here: www.carlislecathedral.org.uk/governance-and-finance/Cathedrals Measure 2021: www.legislation.gov.uk/ukcm/2021/2/contents