Eton Hymnal is the creation of two of our boys and Mr Johnson (Precentor and Director of Music), who arranged the recording of 750 boys in Years 11, 12 & 13 singing their favourite hymns. The project aims to evoke fond memories of College Chapel and raise funds for the Cathedral Music Trust. Discover more about Eton Hymnal from organisers Monty H and Felix W below.
What inspired Eton Hymnal?
Chapel is definitely one of the highlights of being an Etonian. Hundreds of boys singing a hymn that isn’t perfectly in tune, but is very much alive. There’s something inherently magical about singing in Chapel with your friends to start the day. It isn’t really about the music itself, but about the shared sense of belonging it creates.
Talking to Old Etonians, we realised just how deeply cherished those memories are, and that’s what sparked the project. We also noticed that most of the classic school hymns you find online are sung by professional choirs, which doesn’t quite capture the raw,
robust atmosphere of College Chapel.
Chapel is almost a universal point of nostalgia at Eton. Some boys didn’t play sport, do music, drama, or debating, but everyone went to Chapel, and everyone had their own favourite hymns. Creating something that allows people to revisit those sounds whenever they choose felt powerful in itself, and donating the proceeds to the Cathedral Music Trust was a natural extension of that idea, allowing the project to support cathedral music more broadly.
How did you prepare for the project?
We came up with the idea in January 2025, and preparation has been an ongoing process since then. At the start, much of the work involved conversations with different parts of the School. We initially contacted the Eton Action Team and then worked closely with the Music and Communications Departments. We are also grateful to the Conduct, who gave permission to dedicate a full week of Chapel to recording hymns in place of normal services.
Once we began receiving approvals, we moved into development. We started building the website, which went through several iterations as the project evolved, while planning the recordings in parallel. The College Chapel Choir and students from D, C and B Blocks (Years 11, 12, 13) spent a week recording hymns in College Chapel during regular service times, under the musical direction of Mr Johnson, with Mr Penny acting as recording engineer.
After the recordings were edited and finalised, thanks to Mr O’Donovan, we integrated them into the website. At that point, we reached out to the Cathedral Music Trust, who were incredibly supportive and enthusiastic, helping to give the project a wider purpose beyond Eton.
Who was involved in the recordings?
The project was very much a collective effort. All the boys in B, C and D Blocks sang during Chapel, which gave the recordings their energy and authenticity. Alongside them, the College Chapel Choir added real musical depth, particularly in Libera me, Domine.
We were also incredibly well supported by staff. Mr Johnson, our Master-in-Charge, was involved at every stage and helped guide the project throughout. Mr Penny oversaw the recording setup, Mr O’Donovan handled the technical and editing work, and Mrs Sleight and the Communications Department supported the project more broadly. We’re also very grateful to the Conduct for allowing us to record in Chapel.
What did you enjoy the most and did you face any challenges?
One of the most enjoyable parts was the recording itself. Hearing the hymns sung with such energy and commitment by the boys in Chapel was incredible, especially knowing that these were the same sounds generations of Etonians would recognise. Seeing our idea finally become a reality after months of planning was also hugely satisfying.
The biggest challenges came earlier in the process. Turning a broad idea into something realistic and achievable took time. There were logistical questions at every stage: when the recordings could happen, how to maximise participation, and how to fit them into the rhythm of school life. In the end, recording during normal Chapel services was the only way to include everyone, but getting permission and coordinating that required careful planning.
We also had to work through practical questions about how the final product would be delivered, how people would access and download the recordings, and how the proceeds would reach the charity. None of those had obvious answers at the start. Overall, each challenge pushed us to think more clearly and practically, and finding solutions along the way was just as rewarding as the final outcome.
What is the aim of Eton Hymnal?
The aim of the project is to capture and preserve the sound of College Chapel as it’s actually experienced at Eton, rather than as a polished performance. It allows Old Etonians to reconnect with something deeply familiar, while also sharing Eton’s rich chapel tradition with a wider community. More broadly, by donating the proceeds to the Cathedral Music Trust, the project uses that shared nostalgia to support and promote cathedral music beyond Eton.
Discover more about Eton Hymnal here and the Cathedral Music Trust here.
