Girls have officially become full members of the St Paul’s Cathedral choir for the first time.

The children, named only as Lila, 11, and Lois, 10, took part in the final preparations ahead of Sunday’s choral evensong service.

It marks a historic step in the choir’s 900-year history as girls officially become a full part of it.

Both girls have been probationers in training with the choir since September 2023 and are now being “made up” to full membership.

From now on, the girl choristers will be permanent members of the choir.

They are expected to play an equal part when singing at cathedral services and events of national importance.

‘Truly equal offer’

London‘s first female bishop, Dame Sarah Mullaly, attended the rehearsal.

She previously welcomed the move, saying it would be “wonderful to hear girls’ voices contributing to this”.

The announcement girls would join the choir was initially made in May 2022.

The cathedral and St Paul’s Cathedral School said at the time they would take steps to “provide a truly equal offer for girl and boy choristers”.

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Dean of St Paul’s, the Very Reverend Dr David Ison, said at the time it had been a “long-held ambition to introduce girls’ voices into the cathedral choir”.

“Doing this will create an exceptional new music opportunity for young people and will further enhance the contribution of our highly valued and much-loved choir to the worship life of the cathedral and the heritage of the nation,” he added.

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