What's coming up?
The Friends of St Mary's present: The Phantom of the Opera
With live organ accompaniment by Richard Dawson
Saturday, 23 March, 7.30pm - Ticket £10/£8 conc.
Gothic horror film fans (and organ buffs too) - the Friends of St Mary's have a treat in store for you. Organist Richard Dawson plays live accompaniment to the 1925 silent-movie classic Phantom of the Opera. In the glorious interior of St Mary's. A fab night out and one of the last chances to hear Richard in full flight on our beautiful Bevington organ before he leaves Brighton to become Director of Music at Barnard Castle School.
The technical wizardry is provided by Keith Hearnshaw. Please visit his website to be inspired and tell us if there are other films there you'd like to see with organ accompaniment at St Mary's.
Licensed bar. Complimentary cheese straws (of course).
All proceeds go towards the repair and restoration of our beautiful church building.
Tickets £10/£8 conc. Available on the door (cash only, please), or bookable in advance from WeGotTickets. There's no booking fee, because we're nice and absorb that ourselves. :-)
With live organ accompaniment by Richard Dawson
Saturday, 23 March, 7.30pm - Ticket £10/£8 conc.
Gothic horror film fans (and organ buffs too) - the Friends of St Mary's have a treat in store for you. Organist Richard Dawson plays live accompaniment to the 1925 silent-movie classic Phantom of the Opera. In the glorious interior of St Mary's. A fab night out and one of the last chances to hear Richard in full flight on our beautiful Bevington organ before he leaves Brighton to become Director of Music at Barnard Castle School.
The technical wizardry is provided by Keith Hearnshaw. Please visit his website to be inspired and tell us if there are other films there you'd like to see with organ accompaniment at St Mary's.
Licensed bar. Complimentary cheese straws (of course).
All proceeds go towards the repair and restoration of our beautiful church building.
Tickets £10/£8 conc. Available on the door (cash only, please), or bookable in advance from WeGotTickets. There's no booking fee, because we're nice and absorb that ourselves. :-)
Fine Music for Free
Sue Mileham-Paine, soprano and Nicola Grunberg, piano
The Turning Year - A Seasonal Song Cycle
Saturday, 13 April, 6 pm - Free
Our Fine Music for Free recital series is back, and we start with a seasonally themed song recital: 'The Turning Year', in which Sue Mileham-Paine and Nicola Grunberg perform music by English, French, German and American composers from 17th to 20th centuries, taking us through the year from Spring and back to Spring. Songs include the optimistic Villanelle from Berlioz’ Les nuits d’été, Barber’s serene Sure on this shining night, and Linley’s The curfew, an introspective setting of part of Thomas Gray’s Elegy in a Country Churchyard.
Fifty minutes of fine music for free, with complimentary refreshments afterwards. Please contribute what you can to the retiring collection, which enables us to give a modest fee to our performers and helps us complete the fundraising for our Bechstein piano.
Wheelchair accessible. Music-loving dogs on a lead welcome.
Sue Mileham-Paine, soprano and Nicola Grunberg, piano
The Turning Year - A Seasonal Song Cycle
Saturday, 13 April, 6 pm - Free
Our Fine Music for Free recital series is back, and we start with a seasonally themed song recital: 'The Turning Year', in which Sue Mileham-Paine and Nicola Grunberg perform music by English, French, German and American composers from 17th to 20th centuries, taking us through the year from Spring and back to Spring. Songs include the optimistic Villanelle from Berlioz’ Les nuits d’été, Barber’s serene Sure on this shining night, and Linley’s The curfew, an introspective setting of part of Thomas Gray’s Elegy in a Country Churchyard.
Fifty minutes of fine music for free, with complimentary refreshments afterwards. Please contribute what you can to the retiring collection, which enables us to give a modest fee to our performers and helps us complete the fundraising for our Bechstein piano.
Wheelchair accessible. Music-loving dogs on a lead welcome.
Come and Sing - Stainer's Crucifixion
Conducted by Gregory Moore
With soloists Andrew Mackenzie Wicks, tenor, and Mark Beesley, bass
Wednesday, 17 April, 7pm - FREE
St Mary’s traditional Holy Week ‘Come and Sing’ performance of John Stainer’s oratorio The Crucifixion (1887) is conducted by Gregory Moore with Andrew Mackenzie Wicks, tenor, and Mark Beesley, bass. Singers are welcome to join the choir for rehearsal at 4.30pm. Please bring a score if you have one.
The performance is at 7pm and is free to attend. Complimentary refreshments for everyone available after the performance. There will be a retiring collection to help meet the costs of the performance.
Conducted by Gregory Moore
With soloists Andrew Mackenzie Wicks, tenor, and Mark Beesley, bass
Wednesday, 17 April, 7pm - FREE
St Mary’s traditional Holy Week ‘Come and Sing’ performance of John Stainer’s oratorio The Crucifixion (1887) is conducted by Gregory Moore with Andrew Mackenzie Wicks, tenor, and Mark Beesley, bass. Singers are welcome to join the choir for rehearsal at 4.30pm. Please bring a score if you have one.
The performance is at 7pm and is free to attend. Complimentary refreshments for everyone available after the performance. There will be a retiring collection to help meet the costs of the performance.
Fine Music for Free
Charming Trio play music by Bruch, Ysaÿe and Piazzolla
Saturday, 27 April, 6 pm - Free
Charming and talented, Beth Gallimore on piano, Yuliya Knowles on viola and Nataly Corolscaia on violin, play chamber and solo music by Bruch, Ysaÿe and Piazzolla in the second of our Fine Music for Free recital series.
Fifty minutes of fine music for free, with complimentary refreshments afterwards. Please contribute what you can to the retiring collection, which enables us to give a modest fee to our performers and helps us complete the fundraising for our Bechstein piano.
Wheelchair accessible. Music-loving dogs on a lead welcome.
Charming Trio play music by Bruch, Ysaÿe and Piazzolla
Saturday, 27 April, 6 pm - Free
Charming and talented, Beth Gallimore on piano, Yuliya Knowles on viola and Nataly Corolscaia on violin, play chamber and solo music by Bruch, Ysaÿe and Piazzolla in the second of our Fine Music for Free recital series.
Fifty minutes of fine music for free, with complimentary refreshments afterwards. Please contribute what you can to the retiring collection, which enables us to give a modest fee to our performers and helps us complete the fundraising for our Bechstein piano.
Wheelchair accessible. Music-loving dogs on a lead welcome.
BHAO Cello Ensemble
Sunday afternoon concert
Sunday, 28 April, 4.30pm - Free
A free performance by cellists of Brighton & Hove Arts Orchestra and friends, directed by Ivana Peranic.
A retiring collection will be taken in aid of the St Mary’s Piano Fund. Cake and other tempting delights on offer as well. Wheelchair accessible.
Sunday afternoon concert
Sunday, 28 April, 4.30pm - Free
A free performance by cellists of Brighton & Hove Arts Orchestra and friends, directed by Ivana Peranic.
A retiring collection will be taken in aid of the St Mary’s Piano Fund. Cake and other tempting delights on offer as well. Wheelchair accessible.
The Great Escape New Music Festival
Thursday, 9 May and Friday, 10 May
Great news! The Great Escape are back with another two evenings of live music at St Mary's as part of one of the biggest festivals of new and emerging music in the world. Over 400 artists in 30+ walkable venues across Brighton, of which we're happy to be one.
We'll post the St Mary's line-up when the details are confirmed, but in the meantime check TGE's website for the latest releases of who'll be performing and to book festival tickets. Also see latest news on TGE's Event page on Facebook.
PLUS, on Saturday, 11 May, we'll be hosting Brightonfinest's Alternative Escape showcase - an afternoon and evening of FREE performances by the best of Brighton's own new musical talent.
Thursday, 9 May and Friday, 10 May
Great news! The Great Escape are back with another two evenings of live music at St Mary's as part of one of the biggest festivals of new and emerging music in the world. Over 400 artists in 30+ walkable venues across Brighton, of which we're happy to be one.
We'll post the St Mary's line-up when the details are confirmed, but in the meantime check TGE's website for the latest releases of who'll be performing and to book festival tickets. Also see latest news on TGE's Event page on Facebook.
PLUS, on Saturday, 11 May, we'll be hosting Brightonfinest's Alternative Escape showcase - an afternoon and evening of FREE performances by the best of Brighton's own new musical talent.
Regular events
Art & Inspiration Discussion Group
Monday afternoons, 2.15pm
4 February - 1 April 2019 - FREE
Our Art & Inspiration Group is back on Mondays at 2.15pm.
It's a small, friendly discussion group, open to all, which is led by a different speaker each week exploring a work or theme in art, music or literature that is close to his or her heart.
The group is free to attend and meets over coffee in the church hall next to St Mary’s.
Please phone 01273 698601 if you have any queries.
4 Feb - Karl Jenkins' The Armed Man
11 Feb - Priests & Poets 1. George Herbert
18 Feb - Being an Artist
25 Feb - Medieval Mystery Plays
4 March - From Icons to Altarpieces
11, 18, 25 March & 1 April - Art and Lent: following Sister Wendy Beckett
Monday afternoons, 2.15pm
4 February - 1 April 2019 - FREE
Our Art & Inspiration Group is back on Mondays at 2.15pm.
It's a small, friendly discussion group, open to all, which is led by a different speaker each week exploring a work or theme in art, music or literature that is close to his or her heart.
The group is free to attend and meets over coffee in the church hall next to St Mary’s.
Please phone 01273 698601 if you have any queries.
4 Feb - Karl Jenkins' The Armed Man
11 Feb - Priests & Poets 1. George Herbert
18 Feb - Being an Artist
25 Feb - Medieval Mystery Plays
4 March - From Icons to Altarpieces
11, 18, 25 March & 1 April - Art and Lent: following Sister Wendy Beckett
Body Control Pilates with Jan Davies
Monday evenings, 6pm and 7.15pm
New courses running from January 2019
Jan is a highly-regarded Pilates teacher with over 15 years of teaching experience in Brighton and Winchester. She runs two separate courses on a Monday evening - one for intermediate/advanced practitioners at 6 pm, and a ten-week course for beginners at 7.15 pm. Courses at both levels will be starting up again after Christmas on Monday, 8 January. If you are interested in joining or would like to talk to Jan about one-to-one tuition, please contact her via her website.
Monday evenings, 6pm and 7.15pm
New courses running from January 2019
Jan is a highly-regarded Pilates teacher with over 15 years of teaching experience in Brighton and Winchester. She runs two separate courses on a Monday evening - one for intermediate/advanced practitioners at 6 pm, and a ten-week course for beginners at 7.15 pm. Courses at both levels will be starting up again after Christmas on Monday, 8 January. If you are interested in joining or would like to talk to Jan about one-to-one tuition, please contact her via her website.
Yoga Roots with Pixie Carney
Monday evenings, 6.30pm
New course begins Monday, 4 February 2019
Pixie is a newcomer to the church hall and will be teaching in the larger of our two assembly rooms. She is an experienced Ashtanga teacher trained at Sampoorna Yoga School in Goa.
Her Yoga Roots: Journey to a better practice class is perfect for people setting foot on a yoga mat for the very first time and also really beneficial for the more experienced yogi, with a focus on grass-roots posture training. Classes run for an hour and a half.
For more details, click on the image, email Pixie or join her Meetup Group.
Monday evenings, 6.30pm
New course begins Monday, 4 February 2019
Pixie is a newcomer to the church hall and will be teaching in the larger of our two assembly rooms. She is an experienced Ashtanga teacher trained at Sampoorna Yoga School in Goa.
Her Yoga Roots: Journey to a better practice class is perfect for people setting foot on a yoga mat for the very first time and also really beneficial for the more experienced yogi, with a focus on grass-roots posture training. Classes run for an hour and a half.
For more details, click on the image, email Pixie or join her Meetup Group.
Kemptown Koalas
Parent & toddler group
Tuesday afternoons, 2.30 - 4pm
Runs throughout the year, including school holidays
St Mary's friendly and inclusive parent & toddler group runs in our church hall on Tuesday afternoons from 2.30 to 4 pm. The entrance to the hall is in St Mary's Place, immediately to the east of the church. We welcome people of all faiths and none and hope you'll feel comfortable with us whatever your beliefs. To help cover the costs of snacks for the littlies and afternoon tea for the grown-ups, we ask that parents pay £1.50 for the first child, and £1 for a second. But this isn't obligatory. Please speak in confidence with one of our volunteers if this would prevent you from bringing a child to the Koalas.
To keep up-to-date with special events and holiday breaks, please see the Koalas' Facebook page.
Parent & toddler group
Tuesday afternoons, 2.30 - 4pm
Runs throughout the year, including school holidays
St Mary's friendly and inclusive parent & toddler group runs in our church hall on Tuesday afternoons from 2.30 to 4 pm. The entrance to the hall is in St Mary's Place, immediately to the east of the church. We welcome people of all faiths and none and hope you'll feel comfortable with us whatever your beliefs. To help cover the costs of snacks for the littlies and afternoon tea for the grown-ups, we ask that parents pay £1.50 for the first child, and £1 for a second. But this isn't obligatory. Please speak in confidence with one of our volunteers if this would prevent you from bringing a child to the Koalas.
To keep up-to-date with special events and holiday breaks, please see the Koalas' Facebook page.
One Heart Lion of Africa Dance Company
Senegalese Lion Dance lessons with live drumming
Tuesday evenings, 7 - 8.30pm / £10 per session
New season begins 15 January 2019
Irrepressible Lion Dance master Palaye Seck leads a lively and informal West African dance class every Tuesday evening, with live drumming. An incredibly cheerful way to get moving - and laughing - fast!
Classes are run as drop-in sessions for dancers of all abilities, including complete newcomers. £10 per session.
For more information, see Palaye's One Heart Lion of Africa Facebook page or call him on 07935 114773.
Senegalese Lion Dance lessons with live drumming
Tuesday evenings, 7 - 8.30pm / £10 per session
New season begins 15 January 2019
Irrepressible Lion Dance master Palaye Seck leads a lively and informal West African dance class every Tuesday evening, with live drumming. An incredibly cheerful way to get moving - and laughing - fast!
Classes are run as drop-in sessions for dancers of all abilities, including complete newcomers. £10 per session.
For more information, see Palaye's One Heart Lion of Africa Facebook page or call him on 07935 114773.
The Young Actors Group: Drama classes for 8 - 15 year-olds
Thursdays, 4pm and 6pm
New term begins 17 January 2019
We're delighted to announce that the Kemp Town branch of Brighton's Young Actors Group will be returning to our church hall on 17th January 2019. YAG offers superb tuition and professional tips and advice for budding actors, and the classes are also a great way of helping children improve confidence and self-esteem.
The classes for younger children (aged 8 to 11) are on Thursday afternoons, from 4 pm to 6 pm, while the class for the older group (aged 12 to 15) runs Thursday evenings from 6 to 8 pm.
Please see the Young Actors Group website for details of the courses, and also information about tuition fees and scholarship opportunities.
The congregation at St Mary's sponsors two half-fee scholarships for children from financially disadvantaged backgrounds.
Thursdays, 4pm and 6pm
New term begins 17 January 2019
We're delighted to announce that the Kemp Town branch of Brighton's Young Actors Group will be returning to our church hall on 17th January 2019. YAG offers superb tuition and professional tips and advice for budding actors, and the classes are also a great way of helping children improve confidence and self-esteem.
The classes for younger children (aged 8 to 11) are on Thursday afternoons, from 4 pm to 6 pm, while the class for the older group (aged 12 to 15) runs Thursday evenings from 6 to 8 pm.
Please see the Young Actors Group website for details of the courses, and also information about tuition fees and scholarship opportunities.
The congregation at St Mary's sponsors two half-fee scholarships for children from financially disadvantaged backgrounds.
Kemp Town Talks
Free English-conversation classes
Friday mornings, 10 am - 12 noon
Saturday mornings, 10.15 am - 12.15 pm
Runs throughout the year
St Mary's holds free, drop-in classes for adults who need or would like to improve their English conversation skills. We have friendly, experienced EFL teachers who will get you talking confidently and help you understand colloquial usage. The groups are small, free and welcoming. No need to book. Just turn up!
There's always a cup of tea or coffee on offer, and a great bunch of volunteers to help out - plus Magnus the Scottie dog, who has terrible verbal skills but who understands anyone who gives him a friendly pat and a dog biscuit.
Free English-conversation classes
Friday mornings, 10 am - 12 noon
Saturday mornings, 10.15 am - 12.15 pm
Runs throughout the year
St Mary's holds free, drop-in classes for adults who need or would like to improve their English conversation skills. We have friendly, experienced EFL teachers who will get you talking confidently and help you understand colloquial usage. The groups are small, free and welcoming. No need to book. Just turn up!
There's always a cup of tea or coffee on offer, and a great bunch of volunteers to help out - plus Magnus the Scottie dog, who has terrible verbal skills but who understands anyone who gives him a friendly pat and a dog biscuit.
Bike for Life - Bicycle Maintenance Course
Next start - Saturday, 13 April 2019, 12 noon - 6 pm
Bruce, from Bike for Life, returns to our church hall on Saturday, 13 April with the first run of this year's three-part bicycle maintenance courses. Each session runs for six hours on a Saturday, from 12 noon, and provides intensive, hands-on tuition. With the odd tea break thrown in for good measure. :-)
If you can't make this course, Bruce will be running new courses in Summer 2019. Watch this space. For details and to book, please see Bike for Life's website or email Bruce or Ronnie via this link.
Next start - Saturday, 13 April 2019, 12 noon - 6 pm
Bruce, from Bike for Life, returns to our church hall on Saturday, 13 April with the first run of this year's three-part bicycle maintenance courses. Each session runs for six hours on a Saturday, from 12 noon, and provides intensive, hands-on tuition. With the odd tea break thrown in for good measure. :-)
If you can't make this course, Bruce will be running new courses in Summer 2019. Watch this space. For details and to book, please see Bike for Life's website or email Bruce or Ronnie via this link.
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