UK's leading musicians fight church's ban on secular bookings

Judith Weir and Aled Jones among signatories to petition urging reversal of ban at St Sepulchre-without-Newgate

Dozens of Britain's most distinguished musicians have backed a campaign to keep a central London church open as an important concert venue and rehearsal space after its management banned "non-religious hiring" of the facilities.

Aled Jones, Julian Lloyd Webber and Judith Weir, the first female master of the Queen's music, are among more than 50 signatories to a letter urging a reversal of the ban, saying they cannot understand why the church is willing to abandon its "unique national cultural remit".