Music

Some Saturday evenings you will find Brian Stocker, pacing the vestibule and looking anxiously at his watch. What is the cause of his anxiety? Is he afraid that some calamity is going to befall the Church building before the following morning? No! it's concert night for Music at St. Peter's and Brian is also Chairman of the Society.  It's ten past seven and the size of the audience is small - is it going to be a poor turnout? There is soon a buzz of excitement as a stream of people comes in either clutching their tickets or asking to buy them at the door. Before we know it, it's 7.30 and the Church is almost full. Time to turn down the lights, sit back and be entertained by yet another brilliant group of musicians.

About 9 times a year St Peter's Methodist Church is home to excellent Concerts mainly of Classical Music chamber groups.  The musicians are of National and International standard and are Championship Class and some are of Premiership Class to borrow a Football analogy.

So why do we do it?  When the Church buildings were comprehensively reconstructed and refurbished about 12 years ago we concieved the idea that we had been very successfully spending money on ourselves and as Methodists that is absolutely what we are not about!  The New facilities surely must be made available to the Community at large for a wide variety of activities so that we can be as inclusive as possible.  One of the ways we can outreach to the Community is by presenting via a separate Charity closely linked to the Church a series of very high quality Music concerts at very affordable prices.  We have successfully persuaded a lot of people to become Season Ticket members and through the subscriptions and modest  charges for entrance on the night of the Concerts we have been able to fund the purchase of a good piano and to employ professional musicians to present the best quality music that can be experienced locally.

The music is designed to appeal to all ages but the concerts have been particularly valued by those who perhaps live alone on slender means and enjoy a Saturday night outing.  There they will meet up with other members and make contact as a community.

The details of the current season and series of concerts can be accessed via the Music at St Peters website www.musicatstpeters.org.uk or by contacting the Secretary, Jenny Devenish, on 01227 456359 who will gladly supply a brochure.  All are welcome!