THE charity Hymns Ancient & Modern, which publishes the Church Times, has appointed Sarah Sands as its new CEO. She started work this week.

Ms Sands trained as a journalist at The Sevenoaks Chronicle before building a career in national news media. She was deputy editor of The Daily Telegraph, and the first female editor of The Sunday Telegraph. She went on to be editor-in-chief of Reader’s Digest UK and held senior editorial positions at the Daily Mail before joining the London Evening Standard, where she was deputy editor, and then editor. Between 2017 and 2020, she was editor of Radio 4’s Today programme.

Beyond journalism, Ms Sands has held advisory positions in cultural and public institutions. She has chaired the G7 Gender Equality Advisory Council, served as deputy chair of the British Council, and has sat on boards including those of Channel 4, the Science Museum Group, and the Berkeley Group. She is a partner at Hawthorn Advisors, a communications consultancy.

Besides publishing the Church Times, Hymns Ancient & Modern is a publisher of books (approximately 100 per year) and journals. It is the publishing partner of both the Church of England and the Church of Scotland, owns Church House Bookshop in London, and distributes books on behalf of other Christian publishers. The charity also has a growing programme of festivals and seminars.

Ms Sands succeeds Dominic Vaughan, who retired in December 2025.

She said: “It is a privilege to join this wonderful publishing organisation. Hymns Ancient & Modern is at the heart of the nation’s choral tradition, a publisher of literature for the soul, an independent chronicler of the Church, a help-meet to clergy and laity, and a convener of live events for reflection and joy. We have never needed it more.”

The Very Revd Dr Simon Jones, who chairs Hymns Ancient & Modern’s board of trustees, said: “Sarah’s distinguished career and wide-ranging leadership experience make her an outstanding new CEO. I am delighted to welcome her, and look forward to the vision and energy she will bring to Hymns Ancient & Modern.”