The concert programme:

The Friends of All Saints' Church Renhold 

25th April 2015: 

The Alma Singers Summer Concert, arranged by the Friends of All Saints' Church Renhold, took place at the Church of All Saints at 7.00 pm on the 25th April 2015. Our Musical Director was Dominic Keating-Roberts and our Piano Accompanist was Tessa Wood. 

The earliest recorded Vicar of All Saints was Geoffrey de Ranhal, appointed by the Prior and Convent of Newnham in 1229. For more information about this historic church, visit www.all-saints-church-renhold.org where you will find some interesting anecdotes. For example the  Northampton Mercury on 15th January 1853 described the interior as “dirty and decayed”. The Lay Rector’s seat was softly cushioned, contrasting strongly with the dingy appearance elsewhere in the building. In the belfry reposed a bath, purchased for the use of the parishioners when the cholera raged (Bedford had an epidemic in 1849).

The program for the first half included a variety songs with a religious bias including: Swing Low Sweet Chariot, The Lord Bless You And Keep You and Howard Goodall's lyrical arrangement of The Lord is My Shepherd.

At the interval choir members were able to mingle with the audience. 

The second half of the concert was more secular and featured Simon and Garfunkle's ever popular Scarborough Fair Canticle arranged by David Ewbank, The Abba Medley and a lively rendition of It Don't Mean a Thing.

The Rev Sarah Burrow introduces the Alma Singers at the beginning of the concert.