London International Choral Festival

Holy Trinity Church Sloane Square

Sloane Square, London

Holy Trinity Church Sloane Square is a London Anglican parish church situated in the heart of Chelsea. It was built between 1888-90 to a striking Arts & Crafts design by the architect John Dando Sedding, who was one of the most prolific and influential ecclesiastical architects of the time. The church’s original benefactors were the 5th Earl of Cadogan and his wife Lady Beatrix, within whose London estate it lies. Poet Laureate, Sir John Betjeman, named it The cathedral of the Arts & Crafts Movement and you will see many examples of art, sculpture and metal work by some of the finest artists and craftsmen of the late 19th century. The first thing that impresses visitors to Holy Trinity is the wealth of stained glass, particularly the great east window designed by Burne-Jones, the largest window William Morris & Company ever made; equally impressive are the windows by William Blake Richmond and Christopher Whall in the North and South aisles respectively. Miraculously all these windows survived the direct hit which destroyed the roof during a bombing raid in the second World War.

Cadogan Hall

5 Sloane Terrace, London, SW1X 9DQ

Originally a Christian Science church, built at the turn of the 19th century and designed by Robert Fellows Chisholm. It is set in a fantastic location in the heart of Chelsea and has become one of London’s leading concert venues. It is the first choice of many of the UK’s top orchestras and a favourite destination for international touring orchestras. It is the host for the annual BBC Radio 3 Chamber Proms. Back in the 1900’s it could hold services attended by up to 1,400 people. By 1996 it had been sold and the congregation moved to smaller premises. Sadly, it fell into a terrible state through not being use or maintained until 2000 when the Cadogan Estate bought it and started renovations. It was then that the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra was looking for a new home and by 2004 the Hall reopened as concert venue. The original 1911 organ that had been dismantled and put into storage during the renovations was carefully cleaned and re-installed. During this process unique column capitals and carvings around the balustrade were discovered that added to the richness of the building itself.