SPECIAL EVENT:

On Wednesday 17th July at 6.30 p.m. St Columba's Choir, accompanied by organist Matthew Atherton, will be singing Evensong at the church of Christ the Consoler, which is in the grounds of Newby Hall at Skelton on Ure. This is a redundant church now in the care of the Churches' Conservation Trust and so this is a very special opportunity for the choir to sing and for others to hear Evensong in this beautiful church.

The service will include the anthem ‘If ye love me’ by William Henry Monk (1823-1889), Psalm 48 to the setting by Henry Smart (1813-1879), the Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis set by Charles Wood (1866-1926), and the Preces and Responses set by Richard Ayleward (1626-1669).

This remarkable church was designed by William Burges (1827-1881) a leading Gothic Revival architect. It was commissioned by Lady Mary Vyner of Newby Hall as a memorial to her son Frederick Grantham Vyner who was murdered by brigands in Greece in 1870 aged 23. This event and the unusual dedication to Christ the Consoler are echoed throughout the church in inscriptions and decoration. Burges worked here with some of his regular associates – Nicholls (sculpture); Lonsdale, Weekes, Saunders (stained glass); Walden (woodwork); Hart (metalwork); and Campbell (painting).

The church was consecrated in 1876 and served as the parish church of Skelton-cum-Newby until it was declared redundant in 1991.

Do join us for a rare event in this beautiful setting; this would make the perfect finish to a day out in the glorious gardens and elegant architecture of Newby Hall. Refreshments will be available after the service.