Truro Cathedral Choir Tour to the Isles of Scilly, April 2026
After a busy Holy Week, our younger choristers and members of the back row set off for a few days on the Isles of Scilly, singing and relaxing together. What followed was something rather more memorable - a two-and-a-half-day whistle-stop tour that became a 6-day epic adventure.
On Wednesday 8 April, we caught the Scillonian III from Penzance and luckily had a calm crossing. Arriving on St Mary’s, the group quickly settled into their accommodation and made the most of the first afternoon. While the back row explored the island by golf buggy, the choristers were already sharing their music, singing at the local Memory Café and even learning some fun new warm-up exercises. Before long, the full choir gathered to rehearse in St Mary’s Church, before singing Evensong to a large and appreciative congregation, with Stanford’s Canticles in A and Wesley’s Blessed be the God and Father. Dinner at the Old Town Inn provided a well-earned end to a full and happy first day.
The following morning began bright and early, with breakfast and a short rehearsal before heading out by boat to Tresco. After rehearsing in St Nicholas’ Church, the choir gave a concert to another very appreciative audience, and were so well looked after by their hosts, with lunch at the community centre and even time for football!
However, while still on Tresco, news reached us that the Scillonian III had developed a fault and we would not be able to return to the mainland as planned. This meant that some members of the choir had to urgently head back home (including lay vicar, Charlie Murray, who was off to run the Paris Marathon) via the last available, albeit ailing, Scillonian that was running on just one engine. The majority of us, however, found ourselves staying on Scilly until Monday. What might have been a major disruption quickly became something quite special. The response from the local community was extraordinary, with hosts on St Mary’s going the extra mile to facilitate our extended stay and ensure that everything continued to run smoothly. Returning to St Mary’s, attention quickly turned to the evening concert. Despite reduced numbers, the choir rose to the challenge: back row singers covered different voice parts, and even a visiting lay clerk from Ely Cathedral stepped in to help. The programme included music by Vaughan Williams, Parsons, Wesley and Stanford, with particularly memorable performances of Tallis’ Salvator Mundi and Allegri’s Miserere, sung to a packed and very supportive audience. There were moments of real resilience too, with choristers covering solos at very short notice and singers digging deep to give their all.
With plans suddenly changed, the days that followed took on a different rhythm. Now into unchartered waters with our itinerary, there was time to enjoy more of island life alongside preparing for new musical opportunities. Mornings included exploring Hugh Town, walking around St Mary’s, and continuing rehearsals as the focus shifted towards singing Sunday services. The choristers quickly learnt David Thorne’s Mass of St Thomas, a favourite of the church on St Mary’s, alongside revisiting and refining other repertoire. There was also time for some lighter music, including putting the finishing touches to The Mermaid, with hopes of reviving a favourite moment from the 2023 tour.
Kindness and generosity continued to come from all directions. After attending the concert, Juliet from Juliet’s Garden invited the choir for drinks and brownies, which were very gratefully received. Mr A-B even cooked dinner for everyone one evening in the kitchen! With stocks running low on the Isles, food supplies needed careful management and staff worked hard behind the scenes to make sure our hungry choir had enough to last! There was also time for Lego, bracelet-making, and even some exploration of the wonderful Father Willis organ in the church. Evenings of shared meals, games, and films reinforced the feeling that it was like one big extended family.
As Sunday approached, preparations gathered pace. Being unexpectedly on St Mary’s for the weekend gave the choir the opportunity to contribute fully to the musical life of the church. With some impromptu printing in the chaplaincy and extra rehearsals, the choir sang at the morning Eucharist, including Thorne’s Mass of St Thomas, Elgar’s Ave verum corpus, and Stanford’s Te Deum in B flat. It was wonderful to join the community for their Sunday worship and to spend time together afterwards over coffee. Later in the day, Evensong brought more beautiful music - Gibbons, Tallis, and Walford Davies - along with some special moments, including familiar faces stepping into roles within the choir. The day itself had something for everyone: music, football, time on the beach, a hastily assembled tour quiz, jacket potatoes, and games back at the house. It was an extraordinary day of music-making and community spirit, and there was a growing sense that this remarkable stay was beginning to draw to a close.
The final morning brought a lighter start, with Mr Osmond cooking pancakes for everyone; quite an operation, and very enthusiastically received. Alongside packing, there was time to sing at Park House retirement home and to pick up some last souvenirs before heading down to the quay. It was a relief to see the repaired Scillonian III waiting for us, though the moment felt rather bittersweet. It had been such a wonderful tour, but it was time to return home. On the journey back, the choir sang The Mermaid on deck to fellow passengers, enjoying clear skies and calm seas, and in Penzance offered one final song (Cornwall, My Home) to passengers and crew alike.
It was a wonderful week of singing and shared experience. Our skilful back row adapted flexibly to reduced numbers, covering parts for each other with great positivity, while our choristers were perfect ambassadors for Truro Cathedral and Truro School throughout. It was such a close-knit, supportive and happy group that the unexpected extra days were never a chore. Above all, this tour will be remembered for its strong sense of togetherness within the choir and in the extraordinary welcome received on the Isles of Scilly.
There are so many to thank: the teams at St Mary’s and Tresco, including Revd Elizabeth Burke, Jane Chiverton, Five Islands Academy, and the many hosts and helpers who went the extra mile to support the choir, especially when plans changed so suddenly. Thanks also go to our dedicated staff team, whose care, organisation, and quick thinking made everything possible. Mrs Gregory deserves a special mention for her extraordinary dedication and work towards the trip! And finally, our thanks to the Isles of Scilly Steamship Company - their support with our travel is so much appreciated.
The memories we have made will stay with us for the rest of our lives, and we can’t wait to return soon!