We live in a golden age of recordings, where new CDs from our great choirs appear almost monthly.

How fortunate we are to be able to hear every cathedral and collegiate choir from the comfort of our own home.

What we tend to forget is just how much was recorded before the advent of CD, with choirs regularly producing recordings from the mid 1950’s. 

The really enterprising choirs started way back with the first known recording appearing in 1909, from St Andrew's Church, Wells Street, London, being a set of eight single sided 78rpm records entitled 'Morning Prayer, Church of England'  This was followed in 1911 by Westminster Abbey and Westminsters Cathedral.

Everyone is aware of the major labels, such as Argo, Abbey, EMI and Decca – but there were, as there is now, a myriad of independent and small private labels producing some absolute gems. 

Nor does this take into account the many 1000s of private recordings made by enthusiastic amateurs armed with a tape recorder.

This unique and priceless recorded heritage of choirs great and small, from the very first 78rpm records to the CDs of today, must be preserved before more recordings are lost for ever.   That is my aim.

In the fullness of time the collection will be offered to an educational or musical institution, becoming a resource for study, research and listening.