Gospel music is a wonder of the world, a combination of authentic Spirit-filled praise, artistic greatness and sheer musical emotion. Soul Sanctuary Gospel Choir is a London-based gospel choir committed to creating contemporary gospel of the highest standard and performing it as widely as possible, especially in the places where gospel’s power to raise the human spirit is most needed. That means events of great personal meaning, like weddings and memorials; it means our “flagship” monthly outdoor event at St James’s Piccadilly, Soul at Saint James; it means church ministry (in prisons especially) and broadcasts and recordings which lift the soul; and it means performances for causes which are dear to us, like Grenfell, BBC Children In Need, Choir With No Name and SVP (The Society of St Vincent de Paul). But it also means audio and video recording sessions for film/TV/music, corporate events, fund raisers, festivals, concerts and celebrations of all sorts – anywhere the rocket-booster of gospel music is needed!

In addition to our regular performances at St James’s Piccadilly, we are proud to share our music and ministry in a wide range of settings. These include our ongoing contribution to Gospel Evensong at St Martin-in-the-Fields, as well as visits to churches and prison chapels across the UK.

Our work regularly brings us into collaboration with major broadcasters, including BBC (appearing on BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 3, BBC Radio 4 and BBC Television), ITV and Sky Arts. We have also enjoyed collaborating with artists such as Secret Garden and UK soul legend Mica Paris on her gospel album Gospel.

Over the years we have created a number of themed productions, including The Resurrection (presented at Jazz Café Camden and broadcast on BBC Radio 2), The Night Watchmen’s Nativity (for Sky Arts at St Martin-in-the-Fields), and Lost and Found: The Prodigal Son at Liverpool Echo Arena. Our live-streamed Soul at Saint James films — including Courage — have also brought the spirit of gospel to audiences online.

Education and community remain central to our work, and we regularly host gospel workshops, particularly at St James’s Piccadilly. Alongside this, we contribute to film and television projects such as Take Me to the River and Greatest Days – a 2023 British musical film based on the Take That jukebox musical of the same name, and perform live for corporate and charity partners including Saatchi & Saatchi and Bupa.

In November 2021 we were deeply honoured to perform at the Royal Albert Hall for the Festival of Remembrance, returning again in 2023 alongside Mica Paris. In 2022 we sang at Grenfell Tower to mark the fifth anniversary of the tragedy, and in December 2023 we performed with Freya Ridings at the Royal Carols: Together at Christmas on ITV, as well as with the inimitable Joe Stilgoe at Lyric Hammersmith Theatre.

Since November 2023 we have also been honoured to perform annually at the Barbican Centre alongside the London Symphony Orchestra and conductor André J. Thomas. A particular highlight of this collaboration has been recording the album Shout for Joy with the London Symphony Orchestra – a joyful celebration of gospel music on one of the world’s great orchestral stages.