We are playing host to a number of events during the Festival, which runs from Saturday 1 to Sunday 16 July. Lots more, in a wide variety of genres, are taking place in venues across Romsey and in neighbouring villages. See full details on the Festival website,
Here’s a quick summary of what’s taking place in the Abbey.
Jump to:
- Evening concerts
- Lunchtime recitals
- Choral services
- Guided tours of the Abbey
- Bell-ringing
- Quilt festival
- Calligraphy exhibition
Links in events below take you to the Festival website.
Evening concerts
| Date | Time | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Sat 1 | 7.30pm | A Gala Evening Romsey Choral Society and City Of Southampton Orchestra get the festival off to a spectacular start with favourite music from operas by Bizet, Borodin, Puccini, Rossini, Strauss and Verdi. |
| Tue 4 | 6pm | Schools Choir Festival Savour the outstanding choral talent in our local schools. This event is part of the Romsey Festival of Youth Music. |
| Thu 13 | 7.30pm | Abbey Sounds Vox Humana present early sacred music including Ambrosian and Gregorian Chant, music of St Hildegard of Bingen, from 13th century France, the Renaissance Masters and beyond. |
| Fri 14 | 7.30pm | I Was Glad Romsey Singers and Romsey Abbey Choirs join forces to celebrate 400 years of English choral and organ music. The concert includes favourites by Purcell, Stanford, Parry, Vaughan Williams and Britten. |
| Sat 15 | 7.30pm | Men And Magnificent Music Romsey Male Voice Choir are joined by guest Male Voice Choirs from England and Wales for choral classics and popular songs from the shows. |
Lunchtime recitals
Recitals start at 1.10pm. Entry is free; there’s a retiring collection.
| Date | Details |
|---|---|
| Mon 3 | Capital City Girls Choir from Raleigh, North Caroline, USA |
| Tue 4 | Peter and the Wolf: a recital for children |
| Fri 7 | St Teilo Tudor organ recital |
| Tue 11 | Simon Grant, voice |
| Wed 12 | Rachel Maxey, viola |
| Thu 13 | Nina Rideout, classical guitar |
Choral Services
The Abbey Choirs and other local choirs will be singing Choral Evensong at 5.30pm every day during the Festival (6.30pm on Sundays). The Romsey Singers will provide the music for the Festival Eucharist at 10am on Sunday 9 July. For the Festival Closing Service on Sunday 16 July at 6.30pm, the Abbey Choirs are joined by the Choir of Christchurch Priory and an orchestra.
You might also be interested in daily reflections taking place each weekday morning in the United Reformed Church, Poetry, Prose and Prayer for a time of Festival.
Guided tours
Each day throughout the Festival, come and explore a different aspect of the history, life and art of the Abbey. Tours start at 3pm and last for about 45 minutes. Tickets are £4, available from the tour guide.
| Date | Topic |
|---|---|
| Sat 1 | Stained glass |
| Sun 2 | Sculptures |
| Mon 3 | Victorian improvements |
| Tue 4 | Monuments |
| Wed 5 | Archaeology |
| Thu 6 | Woodwork |
| Fri 7 | Around the outside (or textiles, excluding vestments, if wet) |
| Sat 8 | Bell tower (3pm tour sold out; places on extra 2pm tour going fast) |
| Sun 9 | A tour for children (5-12 years’ old) |
| Mon 10 | Broadlands links |
| Tue 11 | Vestments |
| Wed 12 | Organs |
| Thu 13 | Memorials |
| Fri 14 | Works of art |
| Sat 15 | St. Swithun’s, Crampmoor (at St. Swithun’s) |
| Sun 16 | Saints in the Abbey |
Bell-ringing
Our team of ringers will be in action on the Wednesdays of the Festival from 7.30pm. In addition, they’ll be ringing a quarter-peal from 5.30pm, before the Closing Service on Sunday 16 July.
Quilt festival
Once again, we play host to the Romsey Quilters during Festival Fortnight. There will also be a display of work by children from Romsey Abbey Primary School and a different demonstration each day. Entry is free, but please buy a catalogue to support their work. Learn more
Calligraphy exhibition
Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 July, 9am-5pm
Hampshire Calligraphers hold an exhibition of calligraphic work annually; this year’s theme is Planet Earth. Exhibitors range from beginners to professionals. Come and see what how calligraphy has developed into its own artform.