You can support St Bartholomew's by enjoying yourself at one of our events!
Most events are open to everyone and you do not have to be a Friend to take part.
If you would like to raise funds yourself by running an event or activity, or to help at our events as a volunteer, please contact us:
stbartholomewsfriends@gmail.com
Next event
Saturday 23 November 2024 in St. Bartholomew's Church, Orford
Join us for “Puddings and Pies,” a rich menu of music and song washed down with poetry and verse presented by early music specialists The Hexachordia Trio.
Timings: 4.30pm Doors open
5.00–7.00pm Hexachordia performance,
drinks and canapés
Tickets: £15 for Friends
£18 for non-Friends
Includes a complementary drink and canapés.
To book: Contact Richard at: murleyfamily@btopenworld.com
Cash bar available
Using a fresh approach to early music, Hexachordia’s performance will celebrate the nation’s obsession with food and drink over the centuries, from medieval church ales brewed for fundraising to the lavish feasts and banquets of the Tudor royal court. The trio sing rounds, catches and bawdy songs as well as playing a wide variety of Medieval and Renaissance music heard and played by the upper echelons of society. We will hear a rousing combination of voices, viols, lute, recorder, gittern, guitar, bagpipes, rauschpfeife and crumhorn. More information:
Recent events
Open Gardens 2024
After downpours first thing on Sunday 26 May, the skies cleared in time for some 300 visitors to tour eleven beautiful private gardens around Orford that opened in support of our charity. Visitors were full of enthusiasm for the gardens, some opening for the first time, and could also enjoy refreshments in the church and attempt to win a £100 National Garden Gift voucher in the raffle.
Quiz evening and supper 2024
On 2 March 2024, a lively crowd from Orford and beyond competed in an evening of brain-teasing questions set on a variety of themes by quiz master Graeme Kay, the church's Director of Music. Held in the Town Hall, the teams also enjoyed a two-course supper, with a bar and raffle, all helping to raise funds for the Friends charity. Congratulations to the winning teams!
Orford Bazaar 2023
St. Bartholomew’s Church hosts a Bazaar in winter every year. At the bazaar on 2 December 2023, the Friends ran the refreshment stall offering a selection of drinks and home-made cakes.
Orford Open Gardens 2023
On Sunday 28 May, ten beautiful private gardens around Orford opened in support of our charity and welcomed hundreds of visitors from Orford and beyond. Visitors also enjoyed refreshments in the church, selecting plants to take home at the plant stall, and trying their hand in the raffle to win a £100 National Garden Gift voucher.
Quiz night and supper 2023
The Quiz night in February 2023 was every bit as popular as in 2022! The sell-out event in the Town Hall saw 100 people in locally-named teams in hot competition over questions posed by The Rev. Giles Tulk, Guy Marshall and the church's Music Director Graeme Kay. There was also a delicious home-made supper, and a bar and raffle helped towards the total funds that the evening raised for the Friends of St. Bartholomew's charity.
Evening reception with music and church history 2022
At a reception in St. Bartholomew's hosted by the Friends in December 2022, a large group of guests enjoyed lovely music by a talented local chamber trio and the church choir, a fascinating talk on the history of the 15th century painting by Bernadino Luini, tours of the church, and seasonal drinks and canapes
Orford Open Gardens 2022
On a sunny Sunday at the end of June 2022, hundreds of people enjoyed visiting thirteen beautiful private gardens and Orford's guerrilla garden off Baker's Lane behind St. Bartholomew's Hall. There were refreshments in the church, including a wonderful array of home-made cakes.
Quiz night and supper 2022
At Orford Town Hall in February 2022, 80 people in ten teams vied for top prize at the Friends’ first quiz evening. Questions were posed by the church's Music Director Graeme Kay and The Rev. Giles Tulk, and the evening was rounded off with a hearty meal and a raffle.
Crocus planting 2021
On a chilly Sunday in November 2021, many people enjoyed buying and planting crocus bulbs in the churchyard, to create a display in Spring and raise funds for the charity at the same time.
Garden Party 2021
During the August 2021 bank holiday, the Great House and its gardens formed the lovely backdrop for an elegant open-air evening of music with a virtuoso acoustic guitarist and a paella supper for 100 guests.
