The choir's origins date back to early 1950, when a series of lectures was given by members of staff of the University of Sheffield's department of music.
The lectures were a great success and the Sheffield Bach Society was subsequently founded at a meeting called on 1 May 1950 by Professor Deas.
Mr Norman Barnes, music master at King Edward VII School in Sheffield, was tasked with forming and conducting a choir.
Recent years have witnessed performances of major works by Mendelssohn besides, of course, Elijah; the rarely heard St Paul was given in Autumn of 2009 and the Hymn of Praise and Lauda Sion in November, 2011.
Following the death of Eileen Denman in December 2001 a Service of Thanksgiving for her life was held in February of the following year at Sheffield Cathedral.
In 2010 the choir celebrated its Diamond Jubilee, with critically acclaimed performances of Mendelssohn's St Paul and Messiah in November and December 2010 respectively in Sheffield Cathedral.
Returning to the society's roots in February 2010, Bach cantatas 30 (Freue dich) and 147 (Herz und Mund, with the famous "Jesu, joy of man's desiring") – together with the composer's concerto for oboe and violin were presented at St Mark's Church Broomhill and a special Diamond Jubilee event took place, also at St Mark's, on Saturday 26 June at 7.30 when Christopher Steel's Sinfonia Sacra was given alongside two works of Mozart the Solemn Vespers and Exultate jubilate.