Campaigners are considering a legal challenge against the closure of Sheffield Cathedral's choir

The Save Sheffield Cathedral Choir group, which is made up of former musicians and has the backing of choristers’ families, said it was seeking independent legal advice as it considered whether to file a claim for unfair dismissal.

The closure, the group said, would make three lay clerks – paid adult members of the choir – redundant, threatened the scholarships of five student singers and ‘throws into doubt the musical education of around 20 choristers’.

Last week the Anglican cathedral in the city centre announced it wanted to disband the current choir to make way for new singing ensembles more appropriate for Sheffield’s ‘mixed urban community’.

Church music ‘can be seen as elitist’, said the cathedral’s dean the Very Rev Peter Bradley.

Later it emerged that Very Rev Bradley had ordered an external inquiry after complaints were made about the alleged bullying of musical staff and volunteers – but the church has denied that the matter was linked to its decision to shut down the choir.

A petition launched on July 25 by Save Sheffield Cathedral Choir has gathered more than 4,000 signatures in four days.

The group said: “The approach taken by the dean and chapter to close Sheffield Cathedral Choir has proven reckless, short-sighted and opportunistic. We are considering a legal challenge to the decision on the basis of unfair dismissal on three grounds: lack of clear reasons given; spurious claims around diversity and inclusion; and the cynical timing of their announcement, without sufficiently notifying employees, during the choir holidays, and in the middle of a global pandemic.”

They added: "Past correspondence has come to light which calls into question the legitimacy of the dean and chapter's decision-making process and looks likely to give rise to a legal challenge."

A spokeswoman for the cathedral said: “The dean and chapter of Sheffield Cathedral have at no time suggested there will be no choral music in the future at the cathedral. They look forward to a revitalised choral tradition in the coming years. We note this group's intention to challenge the decision to close the choir in its current form."

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