Several tons of bronze will resound with St Augustine’s Singers when they present a unique concert at the Parish Church of All Saints, Landbeach, on Saturday 27th April at the family-friendly time of 6pm. This will be a historic occasion for church, visiting choir and community as Philip Mead’s dedicated compositions enable bells old and new to link with St Augustine’s Singers to make previously-unheard harmony.

Bells in the tower will sound out with the St Augustine’s Singers thanks to ingenious Technology by AVxpert, audio-visual suppliers who can manage the sound-relay from the bells in their smart, updated frames at the other end of the building. ‘Landbeach Bells’ and other music by renowned Cambridge composer Philip Mead has been specially-composed or adapted to make this possible. The St Augustine’s Singers will add ‘Innovative’ to their Classical reputation.

Two new bells have joined the bell-tower at this 13th Century, Grade 1-Listed church. The ‘Beach Bellringers’; Friends of All Saints, Landbeach [FOALS]; generous individuals; and grant-making trusts such as The Cambridge Historic Churches Trust have pulled in over £70,000 to make possible one new bell dedicated in honour of the Landbeach Community, and another in honour of the Coronation of King Charles III last year. The names ‘Community’ and ‘Coronation’ are on the new bells, as well as the name of the Churchwardens and benefactors, following ancient tradition. All Saints’ church first bell, the ‘Tenor’ functioned first from around 1510-1523 in the time of Henry VIII, 5 centuries ago.

More formally, on Sun 28th, there will be a religious Dedication of the new bells at a service of Morning Worship led by the Right Reverend Dr Dagmar Winter, Acting Bishop of Ely. Several significant Civic Dignitaries are expected to be present, as well as the St Augustine’s Singers who will give a second performance of ‘Landbeach Bells’ as well as hymns known to celebrate the Intangible Heritage of Bellringing. Distinguished Cambridge Organist Robert Stripe will perform two voluntaries which similarly celebrate bells as a call to worship: it is hoped that the hopeful reverberation of old bells will reach the new housing developments across Landbeach and Waterbeach for years to come.