Recent Events

Bradpole Harvest Service/Ceilidh October 2014

HARVEST EVENSONG AND CEILIDH AT BRADPOLE 4TH OCTOBER 2014 Our first gig of the autumn was a 19th century flavoured Evensong at Bradpole Church. This went well with Bruce Upton as Clerk and Pete Stone, newly-appointed Vicar in the Bridport Team, as Parson. No attempt at fire and brimstone – he’s far too decent a chap - but a humane, thoughtful and thought-provoking reflection on the exploitation of labour now, as in earlier times. We sang the Bridport Responses and the Jackson Mag and Nunc; Anthem: Thou Visitest the Earth The congregation joined in with gusto to sing We Plough the Fields The service was followed by a harvest supper served in the nave, recently cleared of its pews, and, after more table moving, by a ceilidh with caller Ruth Thompson and the Beaminster Gallery Band (the first time they had played for such a gig – and very successful it was too). Interspersed with the dances, small groups from within the quire performed party pieces. The evening helped the people of Bradpole Church to fulfil plans laid more than a decade ago when Holy Trinity began its project for expansion, disabled access and open space, making it more accessible to the village community and beyond. The Friends of Holy Trinity Bradpole work tirelessly to support the church financially and this event proved to be a very successful event for them, causing much celebration! It was a fun evening, with many encouraging comments from partakers and a desire expressed to repeat such a thing.

Winter 2014: We started our Advent/Christmas season off with a concert in the village hall at Martinstown, near Dorchester, where we were made very welcome. Before the concert we were served mulled wine (and hot fruit cup) which duly loosened the vocal cords and provided inner warmth. The band started us off by playing two splendid pieces which set the mood for the evening. We sang lots of old favourites which were interspersed with readings by Quire members. The carols included two versions of While Shepherds Watched, one of which, appropriately, was called Martinstown. After coffee and delicious mince pies during the interval, the second half began with the band playing two stirring marches followed by the audience helping out with The Holly and the Ivy and singing with gusto! Later on the round Sons of Men went down well with the audience which were divided into four parts each with their own choir member conductor to help out. Somewhat ragged to start with but, once it was sung through a couple of times it was enjoyed by all! The evening ended with the choir singing We Singers Make Bold, which wishes everyone a Merry Christmas, and the band playing two pieces to round off the evening beautifully. A great way to start the run up to the big day!

Martinstown

Autumn, 2016

The Quire have recently given two concerts as part of their Harvest/Autumn repertoire. The first of these was on Friday, 30^th September at St. Michael & All angels, Winterbourne Steepleton. The church has a fine West Gallery and before the concert the Quire had their photograph taken there. It was a bit of a squash for singers and players in their costumes, as well as instruments, and proved absolutely impossible to accommodate a cello!

The Quire entertained with metrical psalms and hymns harvest songs and dance tunes plus a couple of Christmas carols and the sizeable audience joined in enthusiastically with the communal items. Excellent refreshments were served during the interval which were much appreciated.

A church has existed on the present site since Saxon times. It was rebuilt in the 12^th Century and is the oldest of only three churches in Dorset to have a spire. There are several intriguing remnants of wall paintings which are well worth a visit.

It was the Quire’s third visit to St. Michael’s and we look forward, hopefully, to returning next year.

The second concert was at St. Mary’s, Burton Bradstock, on Friday, 7^th October. Once again the Quire were warmly welcomed. The programme was the same as at Winterbourne Steepleton with Harvest being the central theme again. The audience joined in with all the congregational choruses and it was good to see that some of them had even gone to the trouble of wearing period clothes which added to the atmosphere. During the interval some excellent refreshments were served for which the audience, singers and instrumentalists were most grateful. We look forward to a return visit in the future.

There has been a church on this site for 900 years. Over the centuries there have been several rebuilds incorporating a West Gallery which was extended in 1833 when another was built in the North Aisle. Unfortunately In 1897 both these galleries were removed and most of the church fittings replaced. There is an excellent website for the church giving much detailed history.