The Royal School of Church Music (RSCM) has announced the recipients of its 2025 Honorary Awards. Awarded yearly by the RSCM council, the recognition is given to those who have made outstanding contributions to church music.

To be made Fellows of the Royal School of Church Music in 2025 are; the Revd Canon Dr Gordon Giles, the recent editor of the Revised English Hymnal. Composer Joanna Forbes L'Estrange is given the award in recognition of her 'staple' catalogue of church music. Revd Timothy Hughes, Anglican priest and former Director of Worship at Holy Trinity Brompton, has been recognised for his leadership of Worship Central, an international worship training and resource centre.

Anna Lapwood is given the award for the work she continues to do to promote the organ, especially to young girls, a demographic that has been underrepresented among organ players. Church musician Dr Andrew Padmore has been recognised for his work for RSCM Ireland, as well as his work conducting the RSCM choral festivals and examining work for the RSCM chorister awards. The final recipient, composer Thomas Hewitt Jones 'continues to act as an advocate for the power and value of church music' and is given the award in recognition of the worldwide celebration of his compositions.

The School has also awarded Associates of the Royal School of Church Music (ARSCM) for achievements in church music. This year, these are awarded to Mr John Crothers, Mr Mark Dancer, Mr Kevin Duggan, Mr Edward Moroney, Dr David Newsholme and Dr Gregg Redner.

Additionally, Mr Matthew Wright has been awarded HonRSCM for 'significant work that is not primarily musical or liturgical' but has 'contributed to the cause of church music'. The Nicholson Award for significant administrative work as a voluntary officer or member of staff within the RSCM; or an award for a significant contribution to church music and/or liturgy at a local level, has been awarded to Mr Colin Davey, Mr David Hanford, Mr John Hendry, Professor Berkeley Hill BEM, Mrs Clare Hitchcock, Mr Roderick Isaacs, Dr William Leigh Knight AGSM, FISM, DProf and Miss Caroline Lenton-Ward.

This year’s awards will be presented at Celebration Day on 4 October at Christ Church, Oxford. rscm.org.uk