The largest church music organisation in Britain, the Royal School of Church Music was founded in 1927 by Sir Sydney Nicholson and has 11,000 members worldwide; it was originally named the School of English Church Music. It seeks to enable church music in the present and invest in its future, largely through publications, courses and an award scheme. The organisation, originally only open to members of the Anglican Communion, is interdenominational, but is still overseen by the Church of England.
- The Director is Andrew Reid (succeeding Lindsay Gray in September 2012, who succeeded John Harper in mid-2008)
- President of the Royal School of Church Music in America is Cindy DeDakis.
- President of RSCM Australia is Dr Ralph Morton.
- President of RSCM South Africa is Colonel Kevin Williams
- President of RSCM New Zealand is Paul Ellis.
- The patron is Her Majesty the Queen.
Lindsay Gray announced in early 2012 that he was to step down as director of the RSCM. The new Director is Andrew Reid, previously Director of Music at Peterborough Cathedral.
US choirs affiliated with the Royal School of Church Music often wear the RSCM medallion, which features a picture of Saint Nicolas, its patron saint.
Read more about Royal School Of Church Music: Awards and Medals
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