In the recently published edition (004) of the Cathedral's printed Newsletter, Organist & Master of the Choristers Charles Harrison reflects on the legacy of Anne Maddocks.
On this year's International Women's Day (Tuesday 8th February 2022) we publish this short reflection online, available to read below.
Chichester is among the last few choral foundations to offer chorister places to girls. Thirty years after Salisbury’s historic decision to establish a separate choir of girls, our own announcement came late last year. Similar news followed quickly from Windsor and Hereford.
While Chichester has lagged behind the national trend with respect to female choristers, it made musical history in 1942 by being the first British cathedral to appoint a woman to the post of Assistant Organist. Anne Sheail was held in high regard by the then Master of the Choristers, Horace Hawkins, who admired her interpretation of Widor’s music–repertoire that he had studied in Paris with the composer. Anne married a curate, Morris Maddocks, in 1955. Seventeen years Anne’s junior, he went on to be ordained Bishop, and together they established the Acorn Christian Healing Foundation, whose work continues around the world to this day.
Sixty-six years after Anne’s appointment, Sarah Baldock became the second woman to hold the most senior musical post in a British cathedral; since then, Chichester’s music team has been enriched by the work of two female organ scholars, Laura Erel (2015-16) and Kyoko Canaway (2017-18). More and more women are drawn to a career in cathedral music: at Chichester, their gifts will always be welcomed and nurtured, as Anne Maddocks found 80 years ago.
Charles Harrison
Organist & Master of the Choristers