Music for a royal occasion had the Countess of Wessex applauding choristers from Rochester Cathedral.

The patron of the Cathedral Trust joined guests in the historic Pewterers’ Hall in the City of London to hear the young people sing their hearts out.

Cooling-based musician and TV presenter Jools Holland also played a special piano piece for the royal guest.

The event gave a further boost to a Music Endowment Fund that eventually needs £10 million to secure music in the cathedral for the long-term future.

David Starkey, historian, television presenter and trust member, admitted he was a “church-friendly atheist” who loved the cathedral.

“Rochester has a problem,” he said. “It’s the second oldest but also the second poorest of English dioceses and the smallest.”

Poverty meant that maintaining the choir was difficult. “Buildings like Rochester and what goes on in the cathedral matter profoundly which is why I hope you will act.”

The Dean of Rochester, the Very Rev Dr Mark Beach, said cathedral music was in good heart. The choir had performed widely under the direction of Scott Farrell and assistant director Claire Innis Hopkins, and several concerts had been performed.

The cathedral had taken its music to schools, Medway’s most deprived communities, nursing and care homes.

But he warned that the “fabulous” musical tradition over centuries could fall silent without support.

“About a quarter of our annual budget goes on music, that’s about £250,000, and that is just to stand still. Standing still is not what we are about and so we need to grow our Music Endowment.”

So far, the fund has reached just over £800,000, about half way to the initial target of £1.5m.

He added: “Our hope is that this evening will be the first of series of events for London Friends, both here and in Rochester, to develop a network of people who can use their own networks in the City and beyond to help us.”

He concluded: “Your Royal Highness, your support means a great deal to us as does the presence of so many people with a desire to strengthen their links with our beautiful and ancient cathedral.”