What's On

To welcome all those taking part in the sponsored "Bike n Stride" for Historic Churches

Annual service commemorating the Battle of Britain, attended by RAFA and local RAF cadets.
Preacher: Glynn Richerby

According to the Book of Common Prayer
Preacher: Angela Jagger

The newly formed girls' choir starts tonight. The weekly practices will be held in the choir vestry on Tuesday evenings at 1800-1930 during term-time.

Choral Evensong is being sung in the church by the RSCM Southern Cathedral Singers

with the Leicester Accordian Orchestra

"Songs of Praise" service, followed by a farewell to our Curate, Mark Battison as he embarks upon the next stage of his ministry

Everyone - and especially newcomers to St James - is most warmly invited to come along to the Harvest Supper and Beetle Drive for a hot supper of Shepherd's Pie (or vegetarian alternative) and Apple Pie, followed by an evening of amusement.

The cost is £6.50 (£3.50 for under 15's) and proceeds will go to support the victims of the floods in Asia, many of whom will not have a harvest this year.

Tickets from any member of the Charity Committee or via the Parish Office.

Concert by Leicester Bach Choir

The choir will sing the Faure Requiem in place of the normal Evensong.

Concert by the City of Leicester SIngers

Preacher - The Vicar

Preacher - John Raven

Vespro della Beata Vergine 1610 - Monteverdi vespers (Claudio Monteverdi)
with The Saraband Consort

Tickets £10 (£1 for accompanied children of school age)

Our Bishop will be presiding and preaching at the 10.30 service today, when he will also license Anthony Green as a reader as well as re-dedicating the Hall after it's refurbishment.

Preacher - The Bishop of Leicester

Preacher - Anthony Green

The annual Christmas Bazaar will take place in the Hall, between 10.00 and 12.30

Choral Evensong sung by the Girl Choristers and Lay Clarks of Wakefield Cathedral Choir, directed by Thomas Moore with organist Stephen Moore, both of whom are former organists of St James the Greater.

Concert of Sacred British Music Across the Centuries, performed by the Leicester University Chamber Choir, conducted by Mark Batten.

Tickets available at the door: £8 (£6 concessions; £3 NUS/U19)

Preacher - the Vicar

Preacher - Neil Crutchley - Leicester Mercury music critic.

Special practice for Advent Carol service followed by a fish & chip supper.

Loughborough Endowed Schools are a holding the second of their two Carol services here.

Admission by ticket, only available from BBC Radio Leicester

Rutter - Magnificat & Christmas Carols


Soprano - Sarah Stephens
Conductor - Richard Dacey

In the Small Hall

Choral Evensong sung by the Leicester Church Music Consort
Directed by Paul Morley

Cantamici and the Shepshed Singers with Cantamici Sinfonia and guest soloists.
Bach, Suite No. 3 in D; Bach, Magnificat in D; Hovhaness, Magnificat

Concert

Passiontide Music and Fauré - Requiem

Soprano - Sarah Stephens
Baritone - Damian Carter
Conductor - Richard Dacey

John Stainer's much loved work, sung by the Mens' Choir and the Voluntary Choir.
Conducted by Mr Graham Jagger
Soloists: Mr Oliver Parker and Mr Daniel Emberson

followed by a vigil until 22.00

Drama and processions in the city centre

This event begins at Castle Yard at 10.15, moving to the Town Hall Square by 11.00, then on to Humberstone Gate by 11.45. The beginning of Jesus' ministry, his teaching, parables and healing will be depicted, ending with the Last Supper, his arrest, trial and Crucifixion.

Sung by all the choirs

to be held in the large hall

ASCENSION DAY This year marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of the
French composer, Olivier Messiaen. A devoutly religious man, his desire to
express the truths of the Christian faith through music was the mainspring of his creative life.

Our evening Eucharist on Ascension Day (1 May) will include one of his earliest and most accessible organ works, L’Ascension.

SOUTHERN EDGE MISSION PARTNERSHIP LAUNCH EVENT

This is being held at the Samworth Academy from 2.00 pm on Saturday 10 May.

Our boy and girl choristers will be contributing to the brief service of dedication. There will be book, cake and handicraft stalls, as well as various sideshows, including a Tombola. Tricia Dean and Marilyn Dorum will be glad to receive donations, either in Church or at the Church Office.

Admission to the event is by programme: these are available (£1 each) from Tricia Dean.

To be held following the midmorning service – to hear views, in general terms, on the possible appointment of a woman associate priest to St James the Greater.

Mark Batten - Organ

followed by tea before Choral Evensong at 6.30pm

Free admission (with retiring collection)

Start Summer at Houghton-on-the-Hill - Will and Julia Warner
(Disabled Access Appeal event)

Summer Concert of European Sacred Music

To include works by Lotti, Palestrina, Victoria, Greig, Rossini and Poulenc.

Scarlet - Chamber Choir

followed by tea before Choral Evensong at 6.30pm

Free admission (with retiring collection)

Richard Moore - Organ

followed by tea before Choral Evensong at 6.30pm

Free admission (with retiring collection)

Coffee Morning - Doris Makepeace
(Disabled Access Appeal event)

Loughborough Endowed Schools - Chamber Choir

followed by tea before Choral Evensong at 6.30pm

Free admission (with retiring collection)

Elizabeth French - Piano

followed by tea before Choral Evensong at 6.30pm

Free admission (with retiring collection)

Birthday Barbeque - Paul and Tricia Dean
(Disabled Access Appeal event)

Nigel Morris - Organ

followed by tea before Choral Evensong at 6.30pm

Free admission (with retiring collection)

The Girl Choristers of St James the Greater

followed by tea before Choral Evensong at 6.30pm

Free admission (with retiring collection)

This trip takes the choir to sing at the beautiful cathedral in Lichfield from 17 - 22 July.

Salmon and Strawberry Lunch - Geoffrey and Hilary Simpson
(Disabled Access Appeal event)

Nicholas Wilshere - Organ

followed by tea before Choral Evensong at 6.30pm

Free admission (with retiring collection)

St James is the Patron Saint of our church.

Mark Batten and Michael Rule - Organ Duets

followed by tea before Choral Evensong at 6.30pm

Free admission (with retiring collection)

Pimms in the Pavilion - Michael Molloy
(Disabled Access Appeal event)

Faure: Requiem
Allegri Miserere
Mendelssohn: Hear my Prayer

Director: James Wilkinson
Organist: Stephen Moore

In memory of Geoffrey Wilkinson

Tickets: £10 / £7.50
Box Office: 0116 240 4031

Open Morning at the Vicarage - Glynn and Sue Richerby
(Disabled Access Appeal event)

The Archdeacon of Leicester will conduct the service of licensing of the Revd Jane Sharp as non-stipendiary Associate Priest.

Gift Day - The Vicar
(Disabled Access Appeal event)

Parish Lunch at Devonshire Place - Tony Rudge and Geoffrey Simpson
(Disabled Access Appeal event)

'A Torcello Inspired Church?' - An illustrated talk, in church, by Dr Alan McWhirr

Liturgical performance of the Faure Requiem

Haydn's Harmoniemesse and Mozart's Litaniae Lauretanae K195

Annual Bazaar - Charitable Giving Committee
(Disabled Access Appeal event)

A Journey through Advent to Christmas

Concert by the Leicestershire Chorale

Tickets only available from BBC Radio Leicester - Broadcast on Christmas Day

Leicester High School Carol Service

Christmas is Coming - Margaret Terry
(Disabled Access Appeal event)

Christmas Celebrations

The Gentlemen and Boys' choir enter from the back of a darkened church, singing Once in Royal David's City. Then in candlelight, a sequence of readings from Holy Scripture unfolds the story of the loving purposes of God from the beginning until now, with the birth of Jesus Christ as the turning point of history.

10.00 am until 2.00 pm

10.00 am - Coffee is served

10.30 am - Illustrated talk by Alan McWhirr - St James the Greater Leicester - A Torcello-inspired design ?

11.30 am - Guided tour of the church

The City of Leicester Singers with Chameleon Arts Orchestra perform Beethoven
The Ruins of Athens and Mass in C

Concert by the Leicester Bach Choir

...from the Church Hall, followed at 10.30 by Passion Gospel and Eucharist

followed by Vigil until 22.00

'Christ in the Centre', starting from St Peter's Square, Highcross Centre

Readings and Music for Good Friday Evening

Anniversary Concert

The Leicester Phoenix Youth Chorale is the present-day version of the Leicester Philharmonic Youth Choir, which was founded 20 years ago.

Robert Howes was the founding conductor (he inaugurated the various BBC carol and choir competitions) and he’s returning to conduct most of this spring’s concert. Willard Welsford is the current conductor.

Tickets are £8 for adults, £6 for concessions and children under 12 get in free, available from 0116 270 4692 or 0116 278 6887.

... following the 10.30 service

BBC RADIO LEICESTER CHARITY CONCERT - APPLAUSE CLASSICS
Oliver Parker, our Director of Music, and our Choir will be participating in this concert, which is one of a series arranged and broadcast by BBC Radio Leicester to raise funds for local charities. Tickets £8. Seating unreserved. Further details at the back of the Church. The Church Administrator is willing to forward bookings to the BBC.

5.30pm - 6pm (followed by tea before Choral Evensong at 6.30pm)

Mark Batten (Organist, St James the Greater)

5.30pm - 6pm (followed by tea before Choral Evensong at 6.30pm)

Peter Holder (Organ Scholar, Southwell Minster)

A programme of English songs with the Leicester Phoenix Youth Chorale

5.30pm - 6pm (followed by tea before Choral Evensong at 6.30pm)

Mark Pescott (Wellingborough School)

Church meeting on Faith in our Time

5.30pm - 6pm (followed by tea before Choral Evensong at 6.30pm)

Nicholas Wilshere (Organ Scholar, St James the Greater)

Early Music Vocal Ensemble
Desire of Heavenly Harmonies
Byrd's Catholic motets interspersed with Tallis' Protestant psalm tunes

5.30pm - 6pm (followed by tea before Choral Evensong at 6.30pm)

Alex Binns (Organ Scholar Elect, St Georges Windsor Castle)

5.30pm - 6pm (followed by tea before Choral Evensong at 6.30pm)

Martyn Noble (Organ Scholar, St Thomas South Wigston)

5.30pm - 6pm (followed by tea before Choral Evensong at 6.30pm)

Michael Rule (Assistant Organist, St James the Greater)

Gifts received by the Vicar in the Church (1000-1400) or on the collection plate the next day

Opening Ceremony for the Access Pavilion

5.30pm - 6pm (followed by tea before Choral Evensong at 6.30pm)

Mark Batten (Request Programme)

Choir departs for Salisbury Cathedral until 2 August where, among other services, they sing Evensong daily at 17.30 (15.00 on Sunday)

This will be the first united act of worship since the inauguration of the Mission Partnership last May. Come and sing!

RIDE AND STRIDE AND CHURCHES OPEN DAY on Saturday 12 September from 10.00 to 18.00. About 400 churches of various denominations around the city and county will be participating. Cyclists, walkers and recorders can ALL be sponsored: proceeds will be shared equally between your chosen place of worship and the Leicestershire Historic Churches Trust.

Mike Bull speaks about receiving his MBE from the Queen earlier this year.

Members of our choirs will be taking part

The Edmondson / Richards Flute & Guitar Duo
Music Over Four Centuries

in aid of the Rainbows Children's Hospice

in the Ashman Music Room

Concert by the Enderby Blues and Royals Bands

A concert by the Bath Male Voice Choir and Chanterelles

by the Vicar and Mark Batten

perform the "Dream of Gerontius" by Edward Elgar

Note start time

Magnificat - John Rutter
Totus Tuus – Gorecki
Messa de Gloria – Puccini

Choir & Baroque Orchestra
Handel and Purcell

Concert by The Leicester University Chamber Choir