Floral Displays And Majestic Music

Celebrating the work completed thus far at St Nicholas Church

Floral displays and majestic music and much more will be on display in May to celebrate the work completed at St Nicholas Church part of their development campaign. The church now has a new organ, a new heating system and new lighting.

The St Nick's In Bloom event will be a three-day event for the community to enjoy but also with a view towards the future, as fundraising work will soon start up again. The event will start on the Friday, May 18th.

The celebration in flowers and music is a springboard to the future needs of St Nicholas as there is still work to be done. It is hoped to restore the external stone work; protect the building's stone against deterioration and restore its former glory. All of this will cost around over half a million pounds and the proceeds of this weekend will be a major step forward.

Vicar of St Nicholas, Father Simon Brandes said; "this weekend in flowers and music marks the successful completion of this part of our development campaign. We have adapted our church for mission in the 21st century. With the help of the community we now have one of the finest organs in the area, new boilers to keep us warm which will protect the church, together with new lighting."

The weekend starts off on Friday 18th May with a special opportunity to enjoy an exclusive Preview Evening with cocktails and canapés among the stunning displays. Put some time aside between 7-9pm to be one of the first to experience this celebration in flowers and music and enjoy hearing the Julie Morton Quartet. A welcome drink is included in the ticket price of £15. Their website page gives full details about the events together with ticket information.

On Saturday 19 May the church will be open from 10-5pm to view the amazing displays – and it’s all free although donations are appreciated. Alongside the floral exhibits there will be musical interludes and you also visit the historic graveyard with tours starting at 3pm. Notable graves include the painter William Hogarth and artist J M Whistler among many others.

The Saturday evening sees a recital by internationally acclaimed organist Jane Parker-Smith on the newly rebuilt organ which sounds incredible! Doors open at 7pm and refreshments will be available. Tickets are only £15 for a unique evening.

There will still be a chance on Sunday 20th May to enjoy the fabulous flowers free from 12.30pm to 5pm and, again, refreshments will be available including cream teas! At 2pm for an hour there will also be the inspirational Chiswick Gospel Choir and the graveyard tour at 3pm allows you to visit historic graves including that of the trumpeter who started the Charge of the Light Brigade and a hero of the battle of Rorke’s Drift.

There really is something for everyone and this is an inclusive church serving all the people of Chiswick. There will be a Choral Mass on the Sunday at 10.30am surrounded by the beautiful flowers and the weekend events conclude that evening with a Songs of Praise at 6pm. Everyone is welcome for an evening of favourite hymns.

The church community say@ "We hope you will visit St Nicholas for our celebration festival of flowers and music and we look forward to welcoming you. We feel sure you will really enjoy the fantastic displays which will help us to secure the future for generations to come. It really is A Treasure by the Thames – Transforming Lives."

April 24, 2018