2016 promises to be a momentous year for all who are connected with, value and appreciate St. Nicolas church, Pevensey. It is the churches 800^th anniversary year: completed in 1216, 400 years before Shakespeare, 500 years before JS Bach was in his prime, St. Francis of Assisi was yet to be born and the world hadn’t been circumnavigated.

2016 will see the start of the second part of the church’s restoration with two new roofs, upgraded electrical system and renewed windows ironwork (‘ferramenta’). This will be financed by a Heritage Lottery Fund grant announced last September, and from our own continuing fundraising.

A further £80,000 is needed to complete the much needed internal redecoration of the church. Applications will be made to hopefully supportive grant funding bodies early in the New Year who, without exception, always want to know what we are fund raising ourselves!

The church has an ambitious Events programme planned for 2016. Tickets will generally be on sale about four weeks before the concert date. Some events may be booked earlier on line through ‘wegottickets.com’.

The first 2016 concert is on 23^rd January at 7:00 PM with NOTEWorthy, an accomplished Eastbourne based ‘a cappella’ choir of mixed voices several of whom have sung in major London choirs (Bach Choir, BBC Chorus to name but two). Their programme will be a selection of sacred and secular music, with some familiar pieces. One of the pieces, an ancient chant ‘O Mysterium Magnum’ from Christmas Matins was sung by King’s College Choir on Christmas Eve this year. It has become a favourite, arranged in this contemporary version in 1947 by an American,  Morten Laurisden. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7ch7uottHU. Come and hear more! Tickets are £6.

Talks

May 18th 7:00 PM, ‘Archaeological History of St. Nicolas Church’ with a description of exhibits from recent excavations on church land, by Dr. Scott McLean, Professor of History and former Head of Field Studies at Herstmonceux Castle. £7.50

October 14th 7:00 PM (Battle of Hastings 950^th Anniversary Day),                     ‘Untold consequences of the Battle’ an entertaining and informed talk by the Curator of Pevensey Museum, Peter Harrison, followed by soirée drinks hosted by              Carr Taylor Wines £10.00

Concerts

January 23^rd  7:00 PM: NOTEworthy– New Eastbourne choir sing a programme of church music through the ages £6 each or £12 Family

April 23^rd 7:00 PM —St. George’s Day: Harvey’s Brass – East Sussex based Symphonic 10-piece Brass ensemble of experienced musicians, £10

May date tba: Organ Recital, by John Collins, Royal College of Music, & Royal College of Organists lecturer £7.50

May 28^th 7:00 PM : Pasadena Roof Orchestra ‘Hot Five’ – Jazz Night, £12.50

June 11^th 7:00 PM: Hailsham Choral Society with pupils from Pevensey &  Westham School choral concert including an especially composed St. Nicolas celebration choral cantata ‘The True St. Nicolas’, and Haydn’s St. Nicolas Mass. £10 adult/£5 child

June 26th 4:00 PM ‘Tea Concert’: Catherine Rimer, a baroque music specialist,    Royal College of Music Tutor and member of The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment – ‘Cello recital £10

July 9^th 7:15 PM: Canterbury Cathedral Boys Choir, cathedral choral music programme £12.50

August 6^th 5:00 PM: Chamber Music for Flute & Harp. Musicians from The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and London Symphony Orchestra £10

September 3^rd 7:00 PM: Eastbourne Symphony Orchestra ensemble perform English compositions for strings to show off the wonderful church acoustics. £10

October 21^st 7:00 PM:  The King’s Singers – internationally renowned ‘a cappella’ vocal ensemble sing a programme of secular and contemporary ‘pops’. £20

December 4^th  2:30 PM: Vivace! Seasonal Concert Ditchling based ‘a cappella’ choir who only sing for Charitable causes – their fifth annual visit to St. Nicolas. £10.

Yes it is almost Christmas but before we get to the traditional candle-lit Christmas Services at St. Nicolas (details are published by the churchwardens – pevenseywarden@btinternet.com if you want to be on their mailing list), there is a concert on 6^th December for the Restoration project: ‘Project 16’. I wrote to you about this concert a couple of weeks ago you may recall.

Sunday 6^th December: Vivace! Seasonal Concert @ 3:00PM – St. Nicolas Patronal Festival Day and Parish lunch (bring and share) at Marsh Hall.

Vivace! is an ‘a cappella’ choir (they sing without instrumental accompaniment but can make instrumental vocal sounds). They have a wide repertoire of light and ‘serious’ pieces and this year for the first time the audience will be invited to join in with some of the items. So it should be a good, fun afternoon beginning at 3:00PM. Tickets £10: in aid of the Restoration Fund.   Tea and home—made cake follow!

Wednesday 16^th December: 7:00PM

Another opportunity to open up the lungs and vocal chords with Carol singing in Pevensey village, starting at 7:00 PM under the Christmas tree at the entrance to Pevensey Castle from the High Street, and then progressing to the hostelries. We normally finish soon after 8:30PM. You are very welcome to swell the numbers and enjoy a ‘Good Fun’ evening. Funds raised will be for meeting Parish running costs.

Saturday 19^th December: Pevensy Yokels @ 10:00AM

‘Coffee and Carols’ in St. Wilfrid’s Hall, Pevensey Bay. By now you will be in good voice to sing every carol, while you enjoy coffee and cake etc. lead by the ‘Pevensey Yokels’ a local group who intersperse the carols with often  humorous ditties and recitations – many with a thoroughly local flavour! Another ‘Good Fun’, thoroughly informal and relaxing couple of hours.  Funds raised will be for Parish running costs.