This evening at St Helen’s Church there was a choral concert by Vox Coelestis. They are no ordinary choir. Formed in 2005 as a collection of musical friends they sang first on a one off basis to raise funds for the organ appeal at Holy Trinity, Coventry. Since then they have come together to perform 14 concerts and raised over £16,000 for a range of charities. And this evening they performed their 15th concert to raise funds for the Abingdon Bridge.

Singers are drawn from cathedral and chamber choirs across the UK. They were very very good. I loved the pieces where they sang from different places in the church. In one piece the sopranos were situated round the church singing a plain chant, and the rest of the choir gathered to sing from the front.

The Abingdon Bridge often has to help young people going through difficult times, and the music was by composers who had had their own sufferings. From Shadow Light – out of times of great mental anguish, distress and illness, beautiful choral music had been created.

The Abingdon Baptist Church Christmas Fayre was opened by Councillor Monica Lovatt, Deputy Chairman of the Vale of White Horse District Council.

The money raised will go towards the church development project that has raised over £400K from the required £650K.

One of the organisers, Jill, explained that this will see the pews removed, a new glass screen to make a larger welcome area, a new dias and cross and furnishings, and general revamp. Work is likely to happen in 2018, and they are still talking to one or two potential temporary homes while work is in progress.