PROGRAMME

The Chapel is a meeting place for independent minds, home to a diverse programme of social, creative, educational and religious events that enable people of all ages to come together to experience this unique setting.

There is a lively seasonal programme of musical and literary performance, from early music to youth group choirs, from spoken word to operatic arias, with local and internationally-acclaimed artists.

Recent events have featured musicians Laura Cannell, Polly Wright, early music specialists Loki Music, The Waveney Valley Brass Ensemble, Lowestoft-based youth choir Group A, opera singer Rob Gildon, and international jazz and blues singer Melissa James. The spoken word also continues to resonate in the Chapel today, from poetry to author-readings of contemporary classics. Performers have included Helen Macdonald, Julia Blackburn and Lucy Hughes-Hallett, alongside successful annual collaborations with local organisations such as the Suffolk Poetry Society.

Workshops and artist residencies are enabling new site-specific works to be created in response to this evocative setting. In 2018, London-based ensemble Chroma produced Awakening in collaboration with Snape Maltings, after a successful week-long residency at the Chapel. Despite Covid restrictions we were able to introduce the new residency projects including the Witchfinder Project.

SERVICES

The Chapel holds two ecumenical services annually and remains a place of worship and religious ceremony. It is available for celebrations, commemorations, memorial events and dedications. The Chapel can be hired for weddings and blessings and is licensed for same sex marriages.

EVENTS

We are now very excited to bring you the preliminary 2022 programme which is outlined below. Further details will be promulgated as we have them nearer the time so do please keep checking here and on social media. Tickets (£10.00) can be pre-booked through Ticket Source or are available on the door (£12.00) unless stated otherwise.

Saturday 30 April, 11am - 3pm. -A public consultation event on the restoration plans for the Old Chapel.
Sunday 1st May, 3pm - Julie Theaker (Soprano) & Paul Theaker (Guitar) perform Lute songs by John Dowland and sonnets by John Clare and Benjamin Britten's English Folk Songs for voice and guitar.
Sunday 8th May – Harpsichord Recital – Yeo Yat-Soon returns to the chapel for another illuminating tour of music and anecdotes from the eighteenth century. Tickets £12.00 (£5.00 students and under-18)available at the door.
Sunday 15th May, 3pm – The Dollard Collectief presents MAY - BETWIXT, BETWEEN - a programme of poetry and music from this international group. Free admission, retiring collection
Saturday 21st May 5.00pm, Sunday 22nd May 2.30 & 5.00pm Cohere Arts, supported by Arts Council England, presents Witchfinder; an immersive music theatre performance inspired by Witchfinder General, Matthew Hopkins, suitable for all the family. Tickets: £10 on the door or in advance
Sunday 29th May, 3pm - Miyabi Duo – join Saki Kato and Hugh Millington for a classical guitar recital, celebrating musical links between Japan, East Asia, and the UK.
Sunday 12th June, 3pm – Suffolk Poetry Society celebrates their 70th Anniversary with their annual members’ readings event and music, on the theme of ‘Mid-Summer’. All poets and public are welcome. Free admission, retiring collection.
Sunday 10th July, 3pm – Hexachordia, the early music trio, marks Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee with “Gloriana!”, celebrating the splendour of the first Elizabethan era in words and music.
Saturday 16th July, 7pm – The John Ward Trio will perform John’s acclaimed folk songs, which draw on his life lived on the Suffolk coast, with their 3-part harmonies, guitar, double bass, mandolin, accordion and his show-stopping bodhran playing,
Saturday 30 July, 7pm – Classical Chill – Noel Vine (violin) & Andrew Quartermain (piano) create a perfect afternoon of music, featuring works by Arvo Part, Bach, Messiaen, Philip Glass and Max Richter.
Sunday 7th August, 3pm – The Lovekyn Duo performs songs and theatre music from the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. William Summers - Renaissance Flute, Recorder and Stephen Carpenter - Renaissance Lute, Guitar.
Saturday 13 August, 1pm - 5pm - Local History Roadshow - Neighbouring village Local History Recorders will be at the chapel with photos, printed material and artefacts for the public to browse, add to and comment on. Books on local history (new, second hand and rare) will be on sale and refreshments will be served. Free admission.
Saturday 20th August, 7pm – Whistlbow – Post-modern troubadours perform new versions of folk and early music, along with one or two classics. Patricia Hammond (voice), William Summers (Flute, Recorder, Crumhorn), Rupert Gillett (Cello. Guitar, Voice) . Tickets Tickets £14 on the door or in advance from here.
Sunday 4th September, 3pm– Folia - performs Baroque music using period instruments. William Summers (Baroque Flute, Recorder), Diane Moore (Baroque Violin), Ibrahim Aziz (Bass Viol) Yeo Yat-Soon (Harpsichord). For further information and advance tickets.
Saturday 10 September Suffolk Historic Churches Trust Ride & Stride and find out about George Calver 10am - 4pm
Sunday 11th September, 3pm – Heritage Weekend & George Calver 10am - 4pm
Saturday 24 September, 2.30pm - URC Halesworth, Miriam Stead – project leader for our community history project, will be giving a talk about The Discovery Project
Saturday 17th December, 3pm – Candlelit Carol Service led by Rev’d Bill Mahood

We will be open to the public on Saturday afternoons from 16 Apr 22 until the end of September; 2pm - 4.30pm, We will also be open on the following weekday afternoons - 16th, 18th and 23rd April, 2nd May and 29th August. Anyone wishing to arrange a private or group visit outside these times should contact us.