Faire is the Heaven
6:00pm, Sun, 17 May 2026
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- Event Details
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Type of event: Performance Start time: 6:00pm Venue: Holy Trinity Broadstairs,
Nelson Place,
Broadstairs,
CT10 1HQSee map below Ticket pricing/options: Full (£12)
Under 16s (Free)Tickets: 
Description: 
Canterbury Chamber Choir Presents: An Evening of Sacred Choral MasterpiecesAt Holy Trinity Church, Broadstairs
Join Canterbury Chamber Choir for a captivating evening of sacred music, performed in the stunning setting of Holy Trinity Church, Broadstairs. This concert brings together a rich tapestry of choral works spanning the Renaissance to the 20th century, showcasing the finest in English and European choral tradition.
The programme opens with John Blow’s majestic Salvator Mundi, a fitting invocation of the Saviour of the World, setting the tone for an evening steeped in reverence and beauty. We then hear two exquisite works by the great English Renaissance master William Byrd — the serene Ave Verum and the jubilant Sing Joyfully, a glorious anthem bursting with energy and intricate polyphony.
Also from the Renaissance comes Richard Farrant’s tender Lord, for thy tender mercy’s sake, alongside Orlando Gibbons’ uplifting O Clap Your Hands, both exemplifying the elegance and devotion of early English church music.
The concert continues with works by modern British composers who have enriched the choral repertoire: Harold Harris’ ethereal Faire is the Heaven, Herbert Howells’ deeply expressive Like as the Hart, and John Ireland’s moving Greater Love, each piece exploring themes of faith and longing with profound sensitivity.
Mendelssohn’s heartfelt Hear my Prayer brings a romantic and heartfelt plea to the programme, followed by the evocative contemporary work Vox Dicentis by Philip Naylor, adding a fresh and contemplative voice to the evening.
The sacred beauty of Marian devotion is celebrated in Christopher Parsons’ Ave Maria, a luminous setting that complements the rich Baroque spirituality of Henry Purcell’s Hear my Prayer and Remember not Lord our offences.
Moving forward, we encounter John Stainer’s dramatic I saw the Lord, and Charles Villiers Stanford’s serene Beati, both staples of the English choral canon that showcase majestic harmonic textures and stirring textual settings.
The programme culminates with works by the beloved Ralph Vaughan Williams (O Taste and See), the passionate William Walton (Set me as a seal), and two heartfelt anthems by Samuel Wesley — Blessed be the God and Thou wilt keep him, alongside Wood’s radiant O thou the Central Orb, celebrating the divine light.
This concert is an extraordinary journey through sacred music’s emotional and spiritual landscape, performed by one of Kent’s most accomplished choirs. Whether you are a seasoned choral music lover or new to this sublime repertoire, you will be moved and inspired by the sheer artistry and devotion on display.
Reserve your tickets now to secure your place at this unforgettable evening of choral splendour in Broadstairs.
