Elstow Abbey - Saturday 12th July 2014 

The concert programme:

This concert was organized by The Friends of Elstow Abbey to raise funds for the maintenance of the church.

 A nunnery was founded at Elstow Abbey  in 1075 by Judith, niece of William the Conqueror. He gave the holding of Elstow to her. Judith founded the nunnery and endowed it with the revenue from the village. Henry II granted the nuns of Elstow the right to hold a fair, which became so popular in the region that respectable Bedford merchants assaulted Bedfordites on their way to Elstow to visit the rival fair. 

The convent church was begun sometime in the 12th century and an elaborate facade was added in the 13th century - though it was never completed. What we see today is only a part of the original abbey church. At the height of its wealth in the 14th century the nunnery church was twice its current size.

The church is unusual in maintaining a campanile, or detached bell tower. This was erected after the nunnery tower was demolished. The campanile, which has five bells, can be seen in the picture to the right of the church.

Left:
Dominic Keating-Roberts, our Musical Director, presents the Alma Singers to the audience at the end of the concert.

William Wright - Tenor

The Alma Singers were joined by talented young tenor William Wright. William treated us to a selection of songs by George Butterworth, Ivor Gurney, and four folk songs arranged by Benjamin Britten.

William has been studying as a music Scholar at Bedford School, renowned for its exceptional music training, for eleven years. William has also studied singing under Tim Jones. 

After winning the  W.A.L. Memorial Singing Prize at school last year, William had furthered his singing career performing throughout Bedfordshire. He has explored a variety of periods including Schubert, Bach, Faure and Old English Folksong. 

William is also a keen violin and piano player. He leads both the First and Chamber Orchestras at Bedford School.

William continues to build on his passion for music and is hoping to attend Durham University in September to read music.