Events blog
Ellie Bowes, our Events & Commercial Manager writes:
I would love to take a moment to reflect on everything we, as a community, have achieved in the last six months.
We have orchestrated a wonderful sold out organ concert ‘Interstellar 10’ in February, encouraging new people and audiences into the Church and engaging them with the organ.
We have had an increase in tours, developed ‘build your own boss ‘ workshops for children, provided opportunities to learn about and engage with the medieval church graffiti, hosted a huge production company and became part of the music scene in Bristol, to name a few.
None of this would have been possible without the continued support and engagement from the congregation and volunteers, however the next few months are set to be even more exciting than the last!
As the days grow shorter and the nights begin to draw in prepare for the Church to become alive once again with music and light! As things stand we have 16 concerts or film screenings taking place in October, November and December but I would like to highlight a few.
In November we welcome Shabaka Hutchings as part of his tour showcasing his stunning new album ‘Perceive It’s Beauty, Acknowledge It’s Grace.’
London-born Hutchings spent much of his childhood in Barbados. Beginning at age nine, he studied the clarinet, playing in calypso bands while studying classical repertoire, often practicing over hip hop beats, as well as to the music native to Barbados. These days Shabaka is an award winning British Jazz musician who recently gave up his Sax for the Flute, this concert is set to be totally unique and stunning. If you are interested in knowing more about Shabaka and his work you can read more in this Guardian Article from March this year.
It's also the 10 year Anniversary of Treefest!
From the 5th – 8th of December we welcome back a selection of incredible trees to decorate the Church. This year is set to be particularly exciting with a market downstairs, refreshments, a packed music agenda and mulled wine! Do come and enjoy the festivities, all the while supporting our two charities; Sixty-One (a Bristol-based charity that supports people with a criminal conviction to lead meaningful crime-free lives) and The Hub (a community centre on Redcliffe Hill, near St Mary Redcliffe, that’s operated by the church.) Looking forward to seeing you there!
In December we welcome back the Christmas Star Concert, run by Bristol and Western Hospitals Charity.
This is a fantastic fundraiser to go above and beyond to transform the experiences patients have in local hospitals, wherever the need is greatest. The funds raised will go towards bringing moments of joy, comfort and hope to those who need it most. Expect a fun atmosphere, beautiful carols and heartwarming stories. Last year this was a real highlight of the calendar and the perfect concert to get you feeling festive.
You can download a full list of events and concerts for Autumn 2024 here
Let me know if you are interested in volunteering for any event and for any queries on the upcoming events please do not hesitate to get in contact with me at ellie.bowes@stmaryredcliffe.co.uk
