Jubilee Year Choir Visit
Stalisfield and Otterden residents enjoyed huge success with a visit by Texan choir Chorus Angelorum over the weekend July 27 and 28, 2002.
A Saturday evening concert in Stalisfield parish church was "sold out" and a Choral Evensong on the Sunday afternoon attracted a capacity congregation. Joint church warden Mrs Hilary Galer was delighted. She said it was difficult to remember when she had seen the church so full. Priest-in-Charge the Reverend Penny Fenton complimented the choir on their singing. "It was magnificent," she said.
Hosting the group of 27 American visitors were families in Stalisfield and the neighbouring parishes of Otterden and Eastling. A farewell "friendship supper" at The Bowl Inn near Charing on the Sunday evening provided yet another highlight before the choir set off for a week's residency singing in Lincoln Cathedral.
A major surprise at a pig roast, staged at Stalisfield Green after the Saturday concert, was the winning by choir director Byron Franklin of a patchwork quilt, raffled to aid church funds. Made by local quilting expert Terrance Gilbert, the magnificent quilt incorporated authentic American printed feed sack fabrics. Mr Gilbert commented: "I'm really delighted that this particular quilt was won by one of our American visitors and, in effect, will be 'going home'."
Mrs Jean West, also a church warden, said: "We couldn't have had a better event to celebrate the Golden Jubilee Year and also, as it happens, the Centenary of the Stalisfield Church organ. The weather was perfect and a lot of new international friendships have been formed." Although the primary aim of the weekend was to hold a local celebration, the church anticipates its funds will have been boosted by several hundred pounds.
You can see the choir’s website at www.chorusangelorum.org.