Brownedge Festival 2018
St Mary’s, Brownedge, Bamber BridgeSaturday 5th May 2018
Saturday 5 May – Friday 11 May
The popular Brownedge Parish and Community Festival, at St Mary’s, Brownedge, Bamber Bridge, returns in 2018 for its 19th consecutive year. Festival 2018 will be officially opened by the Mayor of South Ribble on Saturday 5 May with daily opening and events throughout the following week culminating with ‘The Last Night of Festival’ on the evening of Friday 11 May.
Festival was first held in 2000 to mark the completion of a major refurbishment of St Mary’s, Brownedge and, since then, has been held on an annual basis. Every year there is an open art competition and also a digital photography competition. In 2017, nearly 220 adult and junior entries, of a very high standard, were received for the art competition and 54 entries for the digital photography competition. All of the art and photographs are displayed in the Church during Festival week and the Church is decorated with beautiful floral displays, all worth seeing.
The Church is open during each afternoon of Festival week from 1pm for visitors to come and have a look around the beautiful and historic Church with its fine stained glass windows. Refreshments are also available. A number of exhibitions are also in place depicting the history of the area and this year there will be an innovative interactive art project ‘Paint to the Beat’ which will be open to all and will run throughout the week. Each day, at least one event is held, sometimes two. This year’s exciting programme is as follows:
Saturday 5 May Open 2pm – 5pm
Official Opening by the Mayor of South Ribble and presentation of awards for the open art and digital photography competitions 2.30pm.
Sunday 6 May Open 1pm – 5pm
Screening of the film ‘Catholicism’ 2.30pm
Solemn Benediction 4pm
Open weekdays 1pm – 5pm and from 6.30pm to the end of the evening event
Monday 7 May
Bill Brierley gives a talk ‘More about the local boys in the Great War in 1918’ 7.30pm
Tuesday 8 May
A concert by Fr Colin and Friends – piano, organ and voice with guests 7.30pm
Wednesday 9 May
The choir of the children of St Mary’s and St Benedict’s Primary School 2pm
‘Searching for Matthew’ A one act play about a local girl who went to France in search of the grave of her brother missing in action in the Great War 7.30pm
Thursday 10 May
The choir and band of Severn Drive Primary School, Walton-le-Dale 2pm
Ecumenical Songs of Praise 7.30pm
Friday 11 May
The Last Night of Festival with the Company of Voyces – music from the time of the Great War 7.30pm
So why not visit one afternoon or come along to one, or more, of the evening events? All are welcome and refreshments are available. Bring your family and friends, organise an outing from your parish or local society/group, and enjoy all that Festival has to offer!
Further information can be found on our website at www.brownedgefestival.org.uk or search for ‘Brownedge Festival’ on Facebook and ‘like’ our page. For ‘satnav’ use PR5 6SP, there is a large car park next to the Church.
