 He retired from the RAM in 1993.Lumsden was knighted in 1985. and received honorary fellowships, memberships or degrees from the Royal College of Organists (1976); the RAM (1978); the Royal College of Music (1980); the Royal Northern College of Music (1981); the RSAMD (1982); the Guildhall School of Music and Drama (1984); the Royal Society of Musicians (1984); the London College of Music (1985); the Royal Society of Arts (1985); the Royal School of Church Music (1987); Trinity College, London (1988); the University of Reading (1990); and King's College, London (1991).The Music Centre of his old school, Dame Allan's School, Newcastle upon Tyne is called the Lumsden Centre in his honour.