Church Road, Fordham, Essex CO6 3NL
We are delighted to be performing in Fordham Church for the first time. The church has recently been beautifully renovated, with comfortable chairs and an effective heating. Sightlines are excellent thanks to a beautiful new balcony designed by Quinlan Terry, a member of the congregation. Best of all, it has a perfect acoustic for chamber music.
Patricia Lewis has done some research into the history of the building. The nave is believed to date from the 11th century. The earliest known mention of the church was in 1087, when it was given by William the Conqueror to the Abbey of Bec in Normandy. A major reconstruction took place in the 14th century, and the tower was rebuilt in 1796 after the spire fell down. In common with most churches in the UK, there were restorations in the Victorian and Edwardian periods.
The immediate surroundings of the church are idyllic and there is car parking. According to the church's website, a private trust has given the PCC the use of Fordham Hall, a lovely house next door to the church, and they also own a beautiful barn which has been named after John Owen, a distinguised theologian who became Rector of the church after writing a spirited defence of Calvinism in 1743. He later became preacher to Parliament, chaplain to Oliver Cromwell and Vice Chancellor of Oxford university.
Fordham PCC is in the evangelical tradition, and we are happy to be able to programme a masterpieces by Franz Schubert, a deeply religious composer who grew up singing in the choir of the imperial court chapel in Vienna and who by the age of 19 had already composed four complete settings of the Mass text. The vicar will say a few worlds before the concert.
If you are interested in spiritual music you might also like the Philharmonia Voices concert in Dedham and the performance of Mozart's Requiem in Stoke by Nayland church.
Food
There are two pubs in Fordham, The Three Horseshoes (click to go through to their website) and The Shoulder of Mutton (Halstead Road, Colchester, Essex CO6 3LL 01206 240464 - no website).
Accommodation
Caterpillar Cottage, Fordstreet, Aldham, Colchester, Essex CO6 3PH 01206 240456
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