The Royal School of Church Music has just moved its central offices from the Surrey Downs, to within the shadow of Salisbury Cathedral spire in Wiltshire.

The educational charity, which trains and supports the work of church musicians all over the world, is now running its operation out of Sarum College in the Cathedral Close in Salisbury where it will be based alongside other Christian training organisations already located there.

For the past ten years the RSCM (which celebrates the 80th anniversary of its foundation in 2007) has run its international operation for over 8,500 affiliated churches and individuals from Cleveland Lodge, set in the Surrey Downs near Dorking. However, the RSCM trustees have concluded that the work of the RSCM in the field is more important than a substantial building.   Commenting on the move in the June edition of the RSCM's Church Music Quarterly magazine, the organisation's Director General Professor John Harper writes, 'What Sarum College will provide for us is an economy of scale and an infrastructure of internal services and support allowing staff to concentrate on RSCM matters rather than running a building.'

The departure from Cleveland Lodge has meant the relocation of two organs.  The RSCM's own 1931 instrument has been moved on a long-term loan to a Shrewsbury church where a new organ school is being established. The second instrument, was made for Lady Susi Jeans the previous owner of Cleveland Lodge; it is to be moved to the Birmingham Conservatoire, close to the home of her archive.

To coincide with the move, the RSCM has announced the appointment of Sue Snell as the new Head of Education and Training. Mrs Snell has worked in staff development and management posts in Bath University .and Wiltshire County Council, and happens to be married to the composer and musician, Adrian Snell. 

At Sarum College, visitors to the college bookshop will be able to peruse and buy RSCM publications. Professor Harper makes clear that it is not the RSCM as a whole that is moving to Salisbury.  'Most of the RSCM - our members, our volunteers, our regional staff - remains undisturbed. Only the "administrative hub" moves to new accommodation,' he writes. But at Sarum College the charity will once again be able to run residential courses; something that was not possible at Cleveland Lodge, thus reviving a popular tradition at Addington Palace, the charity's previous headquarters until 1996.

Notes for Editors.

More information about the work of the RSCM both in the UK and abroad can be found on their website: www.rscm.com