7am UK Tour 2026

September 9, 2026

Events

Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth. Psalm 96:1

7AM UK TOUR 2026

In July 2026, a long-cherished dream finally came true for the 7am Choir, as we found ourselves aboard a Kenya Airways flight heading towards the UK for 10 days of musical praise, worship, mission and friendship. Two years in the making, the trip enabled many of our choristers to travel out of Kenya and East Africa for the first time, a life-changing experience.

Having received a wonderful send-off in Nairobi from the British High Commissioner to Kenya, H.E. Matt Baugh, our first port of call in London was the Kenya High Commission, to be received by H.E. Ambassador Maurice Makoloo and Canon Dr. Sammy Wainaina, former Provost of All Saints Cathedral, Nairobi. The perfect way to begin our trip.

Our first service in London was at St Paul’s Knightsbridge, where we received a warm welcome and added some African flavour to a thoughtful and contemplative service with the traditional Xhosa song ‘Indodana’. An added unexpected bonus was to meet Pierce Brosnan, 007 himself!

We headed to the beautiful University city of Cambridge next, to sing Evensong at Great St Mary’s Church. The friendly welcome from the wonderful Rev. Ally and team made us feel immediately at home. Little did the choir know that this would be the setting for an absolute highlight of the tour. As we rehearsed prior to the service, we were joined by the eminent British composer, Sir John Rutter, who generously found space in his busy schedule to spend some time with us. We were privileged to sing for him his own composition, ‘Look At The World’, and were memorably invited by Sir John to sing for his funeral (not for a long, long time, we hope!)!

A perfect afternoon was rounded off by a trip to the Salisbury Arms – Cambridge in our football shirts for dinner and the drama of the World Cup Final! We were brilliantly looked after by Alice and her team.

From Cambridge we returned to London for an experience like no other at the legendary headquarters of the BBC. The choir was invited to sing in the BBC Plaza right outside Broadcasting House and delighted an audience of BBC employees and passers-by with a lively and entertaining performance, which went out on BBC social media platforms. Heading inside Broadcasting House to the studio for Radio 3’s daily ‘In Tune’ programme, hosted by Petroc Trelawny, we performed 3 songs live on air and our choir director, Anthony, spoke to thousands of listeners about the choir and our mission in the UK. BBC Radio 3 – In Tune, The 7am Choir from All Saints Cathedral, Nairobi perform live

Next stop, Manchester! After a memorable morning in the city centre experiencing the National Football Museum, Manchester Cathedral and the wonders of the Arndale Centre, we made our way to our concert venue in Macclesfield, stopping first at the legendary ‘theatre of dreams’, Old Trafford, for photos. St Michael’s Parish Church in Macclesfield Market Place was the venue for our first public concert, in aid of the Martyn Donaldson Music Trust [mdmt ], and what a treat it was! The church was packed to the rafters with a warm, welcoming and enthusiastic audience whose presence encouraged us to present a stellar evening of our favourite songs, sacred and secular. The programme was enhanced by the presence of two guest musicians, Teddy Otieno, from Kenya via Birmingham Conservatoire, and David Sotunde, an up and coming young jazz saxophonist. We returned to Manchester full of good cheer and gratitude for a wonderful evening.

Our musical mission continued with Evensong services at Southwell Minster and Lichfield Cathedral, both impressive and awe-inspiring medieval cathedrals, in which it was a pleasure to sing and worship. Once again, we were welcomed so warmly and made to feel right at home. Our second concert was in the beautiful concert hall of Birmingham Conservatoire to an enthusiastic and receptive audience, in aid of Hope and Homes for Children [Hope and Homes for Children].

Taking a day off music-making, we visited the imposing setting of the Chatsworth estate, seat of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire for more than 500 years and 17 generations. An historic venue quite unlike anything to be found in Kenya, we had a wonderful morning exploring the grounds and enjoying the beauty of the stunning buildings.

Sunday found us in another magnificent setting, this time Coventry Cathedral, famously re-built in the 1950s following the destruction of the medieval cathedral during World War II. Here, we were privileged to lead morning Eucharist as well as Evensong, with Rev. Jandson Njoroge passing on greetings from All Saints Cathedral to the congregants of Coventry.

Our final day led us back to London and the incomparable surroundings of Westminster Abbey. Having witnessed the coronation of every British monarch since William the Conqueror in 1066, Westminster Abbey presented a uniquely historic and magnificent setting for Evensong. Upon arrival we learnt that we were the first African choir to lead a liturgical service in Westminster Abbey, a truly humbling moment. The warmest of welcomes from the clergy soon settled our nerves and we joined with 700 congregants, from around the globe, for a profoundly moving service, which we will never forget.

We offer grateful and heartfelt thanks to all those who helped support the tour in so many ways.

Tour photography by the incomparable KarlKiili | https://karlkiiliphotography.com/

Tags:

7am Choir, UK Tour

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The 7am Lux Aeterna Choir plays a vital role in enhancing worship at the Cathedral while also representing the institution at major national events and special occasions.