‘The one who sings prays twice’ said St Augustine. Music has a special place in our services, from traditional hymns, through contemporary songs to the timeless beauty of Gregorian chant. Music at Holy Cross is led by our organists and cantors and we sometimes have visiting musicians and choirs to help us in our worship. We also have an occasional choir, Cantores Sanctae Crucis, who sing on special occasions.

The tradition of Anglican church music has been part of our life since Holy Cross was founded by the Precentor of Edinburgh Cathedral, Alfred Griffiths. He and the cathedral organist, Thomas Collison, appear in the beautiful painting above by Phoebe Anna Traquair which is in the cathedral Song School. Holy Cross is an affiliate of the Royal School of Church Music.

Holy Cross Church has a great acoustic and is an intimate but numinous space for concerts. If you would like to hold a concert here contact the Rector. We have a link with the inspirational Scottish charity Live Music Now Scotland and would like to develop our musical life for the glory of God and the good of our community.

Below are recordings of our occasional choir, Cantores Sanctae Crucis, directed by David Coney, singing one of the Victoria Responses at the popular service of Tenebrae at Holy Cross and an ancient Scottish Magnificat at Evensong.

‘Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord’, Ephesians 5:19.

^{The image above from Phoebe Anna Traquair’s murals in the Edinburgh Cathedral Song School is reproduced with thanks to Peter Backhouse and St Mary’s Cathedral.}