Melbourne Parish Church celebrates its 90th anniversary this year. While no one knows the exact year the current church was founded, 2025 is certainly not far from the mark and has a nice ring to it.
There is a lot happening to mark the anniversary and for that reason The Friends are coordinating their events this year with those being organised by the 900 organising commitee and publicising them. It is a great programme and we hope you will be able to make it to as many events as possible.
The events planned so far are listed below, with those solely organised by the Friends indicated by an asterisk. We will send out reminders and publicity ahead of each event but if you would like more information in the meantime, please contact Gordon Hughes on gordonhughes007@btinternet.com or 07837 592596.
- April – The posting of a timeline on the church website, showing national and local events over the last 900 years
- May 15, 7 pm – A Whodunnit evening presented by Margaret Gildea: Who murdered the Princes in the Tower?*
- May 17 – Vintage Fayre
- 24 – 26 May – Community Flower Festival celebrating 900 years
- 5 June – Talk by William Bates on the contentious restoration of Melbourne Parish Church in the 1860s*
- June 14 – Historical reenactment by Chevaliers du Leon, including Medieval Fayre and Hog Roast
- July 4 – Evening Medieval Banquet
- July 19 – Coffee morning concert with A Choir’d Taste
- July 19 – An architectural and historical tour of the church and surroundings by Philip Heath, 2pm
- August 16 – An architectural and historical tour of the church and surroundings with Philip Heath, 2pm
- August 24 – 29 – Artistic Exhibition –‘Wild Saints’ by local artist Michael Cook and fellow artists
- September 5 & 6 – Local produce show
- September 20/21 – Melbourne Festival
- September 25 – Chamber music from Graham Oppenheimer and Friends*
- September 28 – Patronal Festival
- October 2 – Talk by Philip Heath, 7.30pm: “The chequered history of Melbourne Parish Church over 900 years”
- October 16/17 – St Michael’s Players drama group – a humorous look at Melbourne over the last 900 years
- November 6 – The Phantom Of The Opera – silent Film With Music By Minima*
- December 5 – Jazz night: A Christmas Carol with Alan Barnes*
- December 14-21 – Christmas Tree Festival