One of the most historic churches in Wales will be the setting for a new arts festival next week.
From music, including choral vespers, to exhibitions, such as quilts, a wide range of art will be celebrated at St Mary’s Priory Church in Abergavenny from Thursday (June 2) to Sunday (June 5).
Professional musicians and artists will join community music groups and school children contributing to the “Heavenly Glory” festival which will culminate in a Festival Service led by the Bishop of Monmouth, Dominic Walker, on Sunday (June 5).
St Mary’s Priory church is an 11th Century church with one of the finest collections of Medieval monuments in the country, including a 15th Century Jesse figure.
The wide-ranging festival programme includes the great choral classics of Mendelssohn and Mozart, chamber music from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, brass from the Abergavenny Borough Band, jazz from the Peter Scaddan’s Band and lunchtime recitals from bass baritone Jonathan Pugsley.
Local children and musicians will combine for a concert performance of the musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat on Friday evening.
There will also be exhibitions by various artists, photographer Sophie Foulkes and internationally renowned quilter Vicky Glyn. Younger pundits will be entertained by story-telling with Daniel Morden, the renowned author.
St Mary’s will hold services of worship every day. The church choir will sing Choral Vespers on Wednesday and there will be a service of Choral Evensong on Thursday, Friday and Saturday with Welsh Camerata and choral scholars from St Peter’s Ruthin.
The Festival Pavilion and Tithe Barn will be serving refreshments – from coffee and cakes to evening suppers – throughout the event.
The Festival will be opened on June 1 by the High Sheriff of Gwent, Lady Hayman-Joyce, at 7pm.
Revd Canon Jeremy Winston, vicar of Abergavenny, said, “One of the aims of the Festival is to encourage young musicians and singers, both locally and further afield. We are keen that it is also a community event – in the performances, in its organisation and execution. A lot of work has gone into it and we hope it will become a biennial event.”
The Box Office – for brochures and tickets – is now open at St Mary’s Priory Centre, Monk Street, from 10am to 5pm (Monday to Friday) and 10am to 4pm (Saturday) or ring 0844 8718699. For more information, log on to www.stmarys-priory.org or email [email protected]
