The survey
The Royal School of Church Music undertook a survey November 2024 in order to provide a basis for updated guidance on Church Musicians’ Fees, colloquially known as “RSCM rates”. The survey was publicised by the RSCM, the Church Times, the Royal College of Organists and by Organists’ Associations affiliated to the Incorporate Association of Organists, amongst other groups.
Each respondent to the survey represented a place of worship, or a group of churches such as a benefice. In total, there were 1,161 completed responses. Responses were distributed across the UK, including all four home nations and all regions of England.
The survey does not claim to be a random sample of UK places of worship, and this should be borne in mind when drawing conclusions from the data, and when applying the results. Given that the title of the survey is Church Musicians’ Fees, places of worship less interested in music are less likely to have contributed (despite encouragement of all to contribute in order to provide contextual data), and so the true incidence of organists, choirs and other musical roles is likely to be lower across the country than it is in the survey.
97% of responses were from an individual church or chapel, or on behalf of a local group of churches. There were also 24 responses from cathedrals, 7 from educational institutions and one from a crematorium. 80% of responses were submitted by an Organist or Music leader, with the remainder by a Priest or Minister, or by an Administrator. Approximately 90% of responses were from Anglican places of worship.
RSCM Survey results were compared with UK government census data from 2022: Population; % of population identifying as Christian; and Gross Disposable Household Income:
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- – There was a relatively low response rate in London, which can only partially be explained by the relatively low Christian-identifying population % in London.
- – There were low response rates in Scotland and Northern Ireland, which may reflect relatively low RSCM membership and the differing mix of Christian denominations across the four home nations.
- – Relatively high Gross Disposable Household Income in SE England and London may influence relatively high surveyed average fees in this area.
- – Respondents were asked to self-classify their setting, choosing between four Urban / Rural categories: City – Urban / Central; Suburban; Small town; Village / Rural, and the survey showed significant variation in fees across these categories.
Attendance
The reported average attendance at a main or typical service was approximately 62. Much lower, 38 in Village / Rural places of worship.
Congregational singing
99% of all respondents regularly have congregational singing in their worship. Of the remaining 1%, some would like to have congregational singing, given the right supporting skills or resources, and others make a positive choice not to have congregational singing in their worship.
Musical roles
The survey reported the percentages of places of worship with each of the following roles, and whether each role was paid or voluntary:
Organist
Pianist / keyboard player
Music director
Choir
Cantor
Worship band
Other instrumentalists
Music technologist
Choirs
Overall, 68% of respondents have a regular choir in their worship and 92% of choirs are Voluntary. Two-thirds of choirs had no members aged Under 18. In Village / Rural areas, only 56% have a regular choir and 80% of choirs had no members Under 18.
Given that places of worship less interested in music are less likely to have contributed to the survey, the incidence of choirs and other musical roles is likely to be lower across the country than it is in the survey. This would tend to underline the conclusion that village church choirs with children are currently few and far between.
What are the most common church music roles?
Percentages of places of worship with different musical roles:
And how many are paid rather than voluntary?
Additional roles reported but not quantified included: Choral Scholars, Assistant Director of Music, Assistant Organist, Composers and Arrangers, Choir Librarians, Choir Chaperones, Music Administrators.
Qualified musicians are more likely to be paid, and to be paid more
Many musicians provide their services free of charge, but the survey shows that skilled and qualified musicians are more likely to be paid, and more likely to be paid more.
Organists
In the 95% of the sample which regularly use organ in worship, 68% report that their usual player is of ‘Diploma level’ – holding an organ playing diploma, or having equivalent professional competence.
Amongst organists who are ‘Diploma level’, 80% are paid, amongst ‘Satisfactory competence’ 55%, while amongst organists of ‘Limited competence’, only a minority are paid.
Organist fees where the usual player is ‘Diploma level’ are typically 20%-50% higher than where the usual player has ‘Satisfactory competence’.
Where organists are paid, there is a mix of practice between salaries, honoraria and fees.
Just over half the places with a paid ‘Diploma level’ organist pay a salary or honorarium. In contrast, just over half the places with a paid ‘Satisfactory competence’ organist pay fees only:
The survey shows some variation in average fees for Organists by Region and by Urban / Rural, with wider variation observed for ‘Diploma standard’ players than for ‘Satisfactory competence’ players.
For Wedding fees, typical variations about the average for Diploma standard players were:
Where there is no organ or organist
2% of the sample have an organ in working order and would like to include organ music in their worship, but do not have a regular player; 1% of the sample have an organ, but not in working order; and a further 1% do not possess an organ.
Pianists / keyboard players
In the 63% of the sample which regularly use piano, keyboard or harmonium music in worship, 65% report that their usual player is of ‘Diploma level’ – holding a piano playing diploma, or having equivalent professional competence.
Overall, about 50% of piano / keyboard players are voluntary. Most ‘Diploma level’ players are paid, while about three-quarters of ‘Satisfactory competence’ players are voluntary.
As with Organists, there is a spread of practice between paying pianists / keyboard players a salary, honorarium or fees only.
Over half the surveyed places of worship with a paid ‘Diploma level’ piano/keyboard player pay a salary or honorarium. About half the places with a paid ‘Satisfactory competence’ player pay fees only.
Worship bands
16% of all respondents have a regular worship band, of which 94% are unpaid.
Other musical roles
10% of responding churches regularly have a Cantor or other vocal soloist apart from the choir member, in 80% of cases unpaid. 19% of responding churches regularly have other instrumentalists in their worship (apart from organ, piano/keyboard, worship band), almost all of whom are voluntary.
Music technology and recorded music
16% of responding churches regular have a music technologist in their worship, almost all unpaid.
Regular use of recorded music is low amongst responding churches. The most common use of recorded music as backing track for congregational singing (8% of churches), or as pre-service or post-service music (7%), with use to accompany prayer or reflection lower, at 4%.
Fee guidance
Average fees and contextual guidance will be provided on the RSCM website to RSCM Members.