All Saints' Church, Maldon

Faith never knows where it is being led, but it knows and loves the One who is leading. - Oswald Chambers 

Media information for the Concert at All Saints Church, Maldon by the Essex Concert Band. In aid of the Friends of All Saints, Maldon. (FoASM) 28.07.2010.

Essex Concert Band celebrates our musical heritage on in the newly refurbished acoustic of All Saints Church in Maldon

The Friends of All Saints, Maldon (FoASM), the Charity set up to raise funds for the maintenance of the Church building, are presenting a Heritage Weekend Concert by the Essex Concert Band on Saturday 18th September 2010 at 7.30pm. (Doors open at 7.00pm).

The acoustics of All Saints Church in Maldon High Street are excellent for the 25 plus players and the audience alike and provides the perfect setting to enjoy a rich mixture of popular music. As the concert is on "Last Night of the Proms" theme as autumn approaches, it will include music by Elgar, Henry Wood and Parry of course, plus some Holst, Wagner and music on the lighter side!

Founded in 1980, Essex Concert Band has many years experience in entertaining audiences both locally and further afield. Away from home the band has performed concerts m Germany and more recently on the bandstands in Bournemouth and St. James’ Park London. However, their main aim is to make a real contribution to local communities by undertaking performances in conjunction with charities and fund raisers and they regularly perform in schools, churches, village halls and bandstands across Essex. The Essex Concert Band has an extensive repertoire to call on, the wind band format being suited to a very wide spectrum of musical styles. Transcriptions of famous orchestral works give access to the music of the great composers of the past, whilst the combination of brass and woodwind is ideally suited to music from the shows and for imitating the sounds of the big band era. Essex Concert Band is a true community ensemble under their musical Director Geoffrey Harmiess.

This performance for the Friends of All Saints, Maldon will raise funds for the Charity that needs cash to help with the restoration and general building maintenance of this unique Grade I listed building. This is the first concert at All Saints arranged by the Friends since the completion of work on the interior of the Church. (Registered Charity No.1066655/0). 

Tickets are £8.00 each and are on sale at Maldon Tourist Information Centre (01621 856503), in Wenlock Way – just off the High Street, from All Saints Church on Sundays or on the door on the evening of the performance. (Tickets include a glass of wine or juice, the doors open 7.00pm). All Saints Church is at the top of the High Street in Maldon Town Centre and is a few minutes walk from both the White Horse and the Butt Lane car parks – free after 6pm. Disabled access to the Church is level.

For more information please call Bill Geller on 01621 843259 or E-mail w.geller@talktalk.net   You can also visit the Essex Concert Band web site www.essexconcertband.org.uk

   Bernard Lewis CBE JP
Chairman of the Trustees 1997 – 2009.
Friends of All Saints Maldon

Bernard Lewis has decided to retire and Bill Geller has become the new Chairman of The Friends of All Saints.  The Treasurer is Jean Oyler and the two other Trustees are The Reverend Canon Stephen Carter – Vicar of All Saints - and Allan Wiseman.  Secretary to the Trustees is Cynthia Chignell.

Nearly 20 years ago the spire of All Saints was in need of major structural and remedial repair work.  The wooden structure on top of the unique triangular stone tower is a masterpiece of medieval building craftsmanship.  Six sided; the lightweight wooden frame is covered with weight saving oak shingles and houses the Church bells.

The money for the work was raised in the town and the Chairman of the fund raisers was Bernard Lewis.  The project was completed and should serve Maldon for another couple of centuries.  The project was finished in the mid 90’s and Bernard was invited to form a group of Friends to raise funds for the maintenance of the building fabric of the Church for the long term.  This group became the Friends of All Saints, Maldon and was registered as a Charity in 1997 under Bernard’s Chairmanship.  The original Trustees included Dr William Petchy the historian as Secretary and Barry Beardall OBE FRICS, a surveyor in the town, as Treasurer.  The Vicar, The Reverend Canon Peter Mason, and Bill Geller were also appointed.

The launch of the new Charity was successful as a result of a mailing letter and invitation to become a ‘Friend’ delivered to every household in the Parish, together with some generous donations from local businesses.  Over the years a variety of fund raising initiatives have been used, but it became apparent that the most popular fund raiser was to be concerts in the Church.  It is popular with performers because of the excellent acoustics and the performances across the musical spectrum have proved equally popular with audiences.

Bernard’s light touch as Chairman and his enthusiasm has allowed individual fund raising initiatives to prosper and the money raised has made a valuable contribution to the maintenance of this unique Grade I listed building, from a new oil tank to examples of the Stone-Masons craft.  Maldon has a debt of gratitude for Bernard’s years of service to the people of the parish and the town, he has the satisfaction of helping to maintain All Saints as a place of worship and a place of peace for future generations of Maldonians.

Thank you Bernard for all that you have done for All Saints.

HANDMADE STONEWARE MUGS

The Friends have commissioned hand made stoneware mugs that feature

a low-relief motive design of the unique triangular Tower of All Saints.

The mugs are made locally at Friars Pottery and are for sale at £5.50 each.

                   Call Bill Geller on 01621 843259

NB   Maldon Tourist Information Centre now stocks these mugs as part of their pottery range.

The centre is in Wenlock Way just off Maldon High Street and is open from 10 am until 4 pm daily, except Sunday.   Telephone:  01621 856503

NEW Postcards   

Set of 4 £1.00, Single card 30p

The cards (shown below) are displayed and can be bought in the Church;  please put your payment in the box.   Alternatively cards can be supplied by Bill Geller 01621 843259     

E-mail: w.geller@talktalk.net 

Postage and packing, please add 50p for inland post. 

Published by 

THE FRIENDS OF ALL SAINTS, MALDON 

Helping to maintain this Grade I listed building

 (Registered Charity No 1066655/0) 

The Friends of All Saints 

 Just think, for a few pounds a year you can become a Friend of All Saints, Maldon and help to maintain this unique Church for future generations. 

The Friends of All Saints (FoASM) is the charity set up in 1997 with the single purpose of creating a fund for the maintenance and improvement of the building that has served Maldonians for nearly nine hundred years. 

FoASM is a separate resource from the day to day running of the Church and relies on the generosity of individuals and businesses in the Parish. 

Become a Friend of All Saints 

You can pick up a leaflet in the Church.   This gives details of how you can help.   Or you can telephone Bill Geller on 01621 843259 or email:  w.geller@talktalk.net and details will be sent to you. 

Please act today.   Thank you.