A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Charity Children

by Charles Mackeson

CHARITY CHILDREN, Meeting at St. Paul's. A festival service attended by the children of the old charity schools of the metropolis, is held annually in June under the dome of St. Paul's Cathedral, the children taking a prominent part in the singing. The first of these festivals was held in 1704, on the Thursday in Whitsunweek, at St. Andrew's, Holborn; the second in 1705 at St. Sepulchre's, where the service took place until 1738, when it was held at Christ Church, Newgate St., and was continued there until 1801. In that year the children met at the cathedral, where the services have since been held, except in 1860 when the cathedral was under repair and the schools assembled on the Handel orchestra at the Crystal Palace. On April 23, 1789, the children met at St. Paul's, when George the Third went in state to return thanks for his restoration to health; and, earlier still, on July 7, 1713, at the thanksgiving for the Peace of Utrecht they were assembled in the streets. The effect of the music has been recorded by many eminent musicians, including Haydn, in whose memorandum book in the Conservatoire at Vienna there is a note on the service, quoting Jones's double chant (Pohl's 'Haydn in London,' 212), and Berlioz, who was present in 1851 ('Soirées de l'Orchestre,' No. 21). The number of the children varies, but is generally between 5000 and 6000; they are arranged in an amphitheatre constructed for the occasion under the dome. The service, which includes the Hallelujah Chorus, is accompanied by the organ, trumpets, and drums. Up to 1863 the 113th psalm had been sung before the sermon, but in that year Mendelssohn's 'Sleepers, wake' was substituted for it. In 1865 Sir John Goss wrote a unison setting of the ' Te Deum,' which took the place of Boyce in A, and in 1866 he wrote a 'Jubilate' in the same form. Among the conductors have been Mr. Bates, Mr. H. Buckland, and Mr. Shoubridge.

[ C. M. ]