The Chester Cathedral Song School Appeal
our legacy to future generations

Choirs of the calibre of Chester Cathedral's, performing a large range and number of works, need proper facilities. Until now these have not been available within the Cathedral buildings. Indeed the introduction of girls into the choir exacerbated the then-already heavy demands on space. Instead the choirs have had to make use of temporary space available from time to time, which was often inadequate, unsuitable and inefficient.

In September 2002, building work started on our new Song School - purpose-built, self-contained accommodation for the choirs that would meet their long-term needs. It is built on the site of the original monks' dormitory, which had fallen into disrepair and was removed in the late 19th century. Constructed of traditional materials to blend in with the rest of the Cathedral buildings - a sandstone exterior and slate roof - it has been a major step towards fully restoring the cloisters at Chester, which is already the most complete monastic complex in the country.

The new building has been designed to last at least 500 years, and with proper maintenance should last as long as the rest of the Cathedral buildings. It really will live up to our Appeal slogan "our legacy to future generations".

The new Song School brings many benefits:

• It allows the continuation at Chester of education and training in the fine choral tradition of English cathedrals.
• It enables choral music to continue into the foreseeable future, preserving part of the heritage and culture that Chester and its Cathedral are famous for.
• It reinstates an important part of the Cathedral's and the nation's architectural heritage to its former proportions.
• As choral music contributes towards more than one million visitors a year being attracted to the Cathedral, it helps in continuing to bring tourist trade to the city and benefit to the local economy.
• It provides "off-stage" facilities for performers such as visiting orchestras and soloists at the Cathedral, which in itself is the only large-scale auditorium in the whole of Cheshire.
• When not in use by the choirs, the Song School will be available to people in the community for meetings, exhibitions, rehearsals, small scale performances and so on.

Our appeal to YOU

The total cost of the new Song School is £1.6 million. In November 2002 the Chester Cathedral Song School Appeal was launched to raise the balance of £600,000 needed to pay for it. To date more than £250,000 of that has been raised.

We need to raise the outstanding amount as soon as possible to avoid incurring interest charges. Our plea to you is PLEASE WILL YOU HELP?

All supporters will have the opportunity, if they so wish, of having their names recorded in the book of donations, which will be on permanent display in the Song School. Here are some ideas of how you could become a supporter:

• By sponsoring part of the Song School, for instance a window, seat, door, robing wardrobe or individual stone. Every sponsor will receive an individual certificate of thanks commemorating their gift.
• By making a one-off donation
• By making regular donations
• By leaving a legacy in your will
• By making an interest-free loan
• By taking part in one of our fundraising events
• By organising a fundraising event yourself

And remember, if you pay UK income or capital gains tax, your donation can be worth 28% more through gift aid.

If you would like to help our Appeal, please print off and return the form below. We would be enormously grateful for your support. By doing so, you would be contributing to our legacy to future generations.

DONATION FORM

I (block capitals) …….............…............……………...

of (address) ……………………………………….......

.....................................………...……….……………………………………………….…. P’code: ....................

am pleased to be able to support The Chester Cathedral Song School Appeal as follows (please tick):

[     ] Please find enclosed a cheque for £………….... made payable to The Chester Cathedral Development Trust.

[     ] Please debit my credit card number

_ _ _ _ / _ _ _ _ / _ _ _ _ / _ _ _ _ expiry date _ _ / _ _ with the sum of £..…….…....

Signature: …………………………………………

Date: ………………………………………………

[     ] Please action my completed bankers order below to make regular donations

[     ] Please send me more details about .…………………………………….……………..

Please note that your name will be kept on our database for Cathedral purposes only, including mailings that we think may be of interest to you. If you do not wish to receive such mailings, please tick here [     ]

GIFT AID

All donations, however made, could be worth 28.2% more through Gift Aid, where we can claim tax back on it at no cost to yourself. To enable us to do this, please complete the following declaration.

Please claim back the tax back on this donation under Gift Aid. I will be paying at least as much UK income tax or capital gains tax as can be claimed back.

Signature: ……………………………..…….…………

Date: ……………………….…………………………..

BANKERS ORDER

Name of my bank: ……………….…………….………

Address of my bank: …………………………..………

………………………………………………………….

………………………………….. P’code: ....................

Account number: …………..………………………….

Sort code: …… – ..…. – …...

Please pay to NatWest Bank, Chester Branch, PO Box 8, 33 Eastgate Street, Chester CH1 1XA, sort code 60–40–08, for the credit of The Chester Cathedral Development Trust, a/c no 79821766

the sum of ………………….……. (amount in words)
£………………………………....... (amount in figures)
monthly/ quarterly/ yearly ...........(delete as appropriate)
starting on …………………..….. (date of first payment)

Signature: ……..……………………….……………… Date: …………………………………………………...

For office/ bank use only:

Please quote reference ………...………………………

When completed, please return this form to:
The Appeal Manager, Chester Cathedral, FREEPOST CS1524, Chester CH1 2YZ, United Kingdom
(No stamp is necessary, but by using one you will help to reduce our costs.)

The Chester Cathedral Development Trust (registered charity number 257123)

12 Abbey Square, Chester CH1 2HU, United Kingdom

tel: 01244 324756 (+44 1244 324756) fax: 01244 341110 (+44 1244 341110)