PROGRAMME

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

There is a lively summer programme of musical and literary performances by local and internationally acclaimed artists – from early music on authentic instruments to folk and contemporary music; from spoken word to operatic arias.

In 2022 our programme included contemporary guitarists the Miyabi Duo, now booked for the Wigmore Hall, the popular John Ward band and an immersive music theatre production featuring a community choir and Rob Gildon.

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 and an annual poetry reading by the Suffolk Poetry Society.

Workshops, artist residencies and collaborations in this evocative setting, stimulate the creation of new site-specific works. In 2018, London-based ensemble Chroma produced Awakening in collaboration with Snape Maltings. In 2023 we are thrilled to be part of the Aldeburgh Festival with three concerts by the Kings Singers.

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.

2023 EVENTS

Our 2023 Summer Programme offers an exciting range of performances including classical music, folk, poetry, period instruments and talks. Buy tickets on Ticket Source on the Walpole Old Chapel section (£10 concerts; £8 talks) or on the door (Concerts £12; talks £8).

Sunday 14th May 3pm – The Company of Horham Old School – 15-20 folk musicians
Sunday 21st May 3.00pm – Stephen Carpenter plays Spanish & Italian songs on the Vihuela
Sunday 28th May 3pm – Baroque solos & sonatas by Follia Duo
Sunday 4th June 3pm – “...above all our Phoenix" Yeo Yat-Soon plays the Virginals
Sunday 11th June 3pm – The Gainsborough Quartet with Rob Gildon
Wednesday 14th June – King's Singers – Part of the Aldeburgh Festival
Sunday 18th June 3pm – ‘Food of Love’ – Hexachordia – early music
Sunday 25th June 3pm – Suffolk Poetry Society – Members’ readings – all welcome
Sunday 9th July 3pm – Walpole Old Chapel: A turning point in English history – a talk by Rev'd Bill Mahood.
Saturday 15th July 7pm – Moonflower duo Clare Durrant (fiddle) and Jane Parker (harp) offer a broad mix of gentle reflective music for a summer's evening.
Saturday 29th July 7pm – Blake Morison and the Hosepipe band – poetry set to music
Sunday 6th August 3pm – At the Sign of the Crumhorn – The London Crumhorn Consort
Saturday 12th August 7pm – The Poet in Song. Julian Godlee (bass) Brenda Blewett (piano)
Sunday 20th August 3pm – The A-Z of Curious Suffolk – A talk by Sarah Doig
Sunday 3rd September 3pm – Shelley’s Muse – The Saone Duo – with period instruments
Sunday 9th Sep - Suffolk Historic Churches Trust Ride & Stride.
~~Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th September– 'Inspired by Walpole Old Chapel'~~
Saturday 16th December 3pm – Carol Service

We will be open to the public on Saturday afternoons (excluding 6th May -Coronation Day) from Good Friday this year Fri 7 April until the end of September from 2pm to 4.30pm. Anyone wishing to arrange a private or group visit outside these times should contact us.