RSCM launches 24-hour Messiah to save Handel’s church

The Royal School of Church Music (RSCM) has joined forces with choral events company Labrador Events to present a 24-hour drop-in performance of Handel’s Messiah at St George’s Church in London’s Hanover Square. The event, which is set to see singers and instrumentalists perform under the baton of several guest conductors (yet to be announced) will run from 7 to 8 September and aims to raise funds for repairs to the church.

The portico of the church, which Handel historically frequented, collapsed just before Christmas last year and next month’s event aims to raise £500,000 to repair it. Starting at 3pm on 7 September with ‘And the Glory of The Lord’, drop-in performers will work their way through all the Messiah choruses, repeating these until 3pm on 8 September. Guest conductors will be rotating on an hourly basis throughout the 24-hour period.

Labrador events founder Mark Strachan said: ‘We were 100% sure that Handel would have helped had he been alive. Another Messiah ‘Come and Sing’ was of course possible yet a bit dull as it's nothing new, so we thought of the idea of the 24 Hour ‘Drop-In’ whereby people could come along at any time in the 24-hour period for fun... Here we are with over 200 people pledged to come along at some stage and more joining all the time.’

Performers can join for £5 per hour, with the net proceeds donated to the Portico Fund and the event will be live streamed on the RSCM YouTube channel for those who cannot attend in person. Those wishing to join the performance in person can register at the Labrador Events website and donations can be made online here.