Chair of RSCM Council of Trustees

The Royal School of Church Music is seeking to appoint a new Chair to lead its Council of Trustees and drive the next phase of our development.

Founded in 1927, The Royal School of Church Music enables the flourishing of church music. We are an educational charity committed to promoting the study, practice and improvement of music in Christian worship.

We are an open, life-long learning organisation, offering face-to-face and distance education and training through our programmes, published resources, courses and activities. These all have a common purpose: to make a positive impact on worship and music in worship.

The RSCM supports a world-wide membership of churches, schools and individuals, and is sustained by thousands of donors and volunteers worldwide. In an international context, the RSCM’s work is broad and diverse. and we aim to make all our work ecumenical in purpose, nature and content. Our offices are in Salisbury and we employ 20 staff, led by our Director Hugh Morris. Our current Chair, a longstanding Council member, will retire in 2024.

The Role of Chair

As we approach our centenary in 2027, we are committed to appointing a Chair who will understand, appreciate and promote the work of the RSCM nationally, regionally and locally. The appointee will lead by chairing our four annual Council meetings, attending events and working closely with other Trustees and the Director to optimise our impact and influence in parish churches and cathedrals and the wider community of church and choral music in terms of choirs, congregations and the communities they serve.


The Ideal Candidate

The RSCM welcomes applications from the widest range of backgrounds to reflect the diverse communities we serve. This encompasses all the regions of the United Kingdom. Applications would be particularly welcome from candidates with experience in the following areas:

  • Leading the oversight and governance of substantial charitable organisations
  • A successful track record of fundraising, ideally within a charity and encompassing major donors, legacies and membership schemes
  • Developing relationships with Christian education organisations

Next Stages and How to Apply

For more information please download a candidate brief here. The detailed Role Guide and Person Specification is available on request from recruitment@rscm.com

Anyone interested in finding out more is welcome to request a conversation with a Trustee. This can be done by emailing recruitment@rscm.com.

To apply you will need to send:
  1. 1. A CV (ideally of no more than 2 pages)
  2. 2. A cover letter, setting out your interest and relevant experience (ideally no more than 750 words)
  3. 3. An Equality & Diversity Monitoring form which can be downloaded here
  4. 4. Details of three referees together with their contact details (referees will only be contacted if you are selected for interview)

These documents should be emailed in PDF format to recruitment@rscm.com by no later than:
17:00 on 20th March 2024

Appointment is subject to satisfactory completion of the RSCM Safer Recruitment process, including references, Enhanced DBS Disclosure (or equivalent) and RSCM Enhanced Confidential Self-Declaration. The successful candidate will need to complete relevant Safeguarding Training. The RSCM is committed to safeguarding as an integral part of our life and ministry. Safeguarding is about the action we take to promote a safer culture.

Safeguarding Officer

The RSCM is looking to recruit a motivated and experienced safeguarding professional to lead on safeguarding strategy and practice in everything we do. If you have the right skills and level of experience in this area and are looking for a new and exciting opportunity, we’d love to hear from you. Click here for a detailed job description and person specification.


Next Steps

Please contact recruitment@rscm.com if you would like an informal conversation about the role.

To apply, please send a CV and covering letter to recruitment@rscm.com.

In addition, we ask you to complete the optional RSCM Equality and Diversity Monitoring Form found here. 

Closing date: 17:00 BST, 2nd April 2024 

Online interviews will be held mid to late April

Appointment is subject to:
  • Completion of the RSCM Safer recruitment process (including references and satisfactory completion of the RSCM’s Enhanced Confidential Self-declaration Form and DBS Enhanced Disclosure/PVG check). Safeguarding training to be completed once in post.
  • Right to work in the UK

RSCM works to positively promote the importance of effective safeguarding, holding to the Christian belief of valuing each person as someone who bears the image of God and is loved equally by God, and therefore should be protected from harm.