The Church of St Michael and All Angels in Diseworth recently celebrated its Patronal Festival with a special service of Choral Evensong that brought together people from across their minster community for a joyful musical celebration.
Although St Michael and All Angels does not have a choir of its own, it was able to draw on the gifts of the wider Soar Valley Minster Community by welcoming the choir of All Saints with Holy Trinity, Loughborough, together with its Organist and Director of Music, Simon Headley.
The service, led by the Revd Emily Sharman, Rector of All Saints with Holy Trinity, featured choral music by Tye, Sanders, Weelkes and Harris. Before the service, the church's six bells rang out across the village thanks to ringers from the Kegworth and Hathern Benefice, helping to mark the occasion and call people to worship.
The congregation joined enthusiastically in the hymns, and around 80 people attended the service. Afterwards, everyone was invited to a reception in the village hall, offering an opportunity for fellowship and celebration.
Sue Bird, from St Michael and All Angels, said: "We were so pleased there was such a good congregation to listen to the music and singing. We reckon there were about 80 in the congregation - 70 service sheets were printed, but we ran out towards the end! Everyone has been extremely complimentary about the service and the fellowship in the village hall afterwards."
Another member of the congregation commented: "Our church has been so blessed with the music today; thank you all, it means so much!"
Among those attending was Sally Illsley, Deputy Lieutenant of Leicestershire, who also enjoyed the celebrations.
The event was made possible through a grant from the Choral Evensong Trust, whose patronal festival programme enables parish churches to celebrate their patron saint's feast day, or the nearest Sunday, with choral evensong at the heart of the festivities, followed by a reception for the congregation and wider community.
Patronal Festival Grant Applications 2027
The Trust is supported by a number of patrons, including HM The King.
Applications for the Trust's 2027 programme open in November.
For more information, visit: Choral Evensong Patronal Festival