On Thursday 14 December, Gospel Bell played a concert in aid of ‘Singing for Syrians’ at St Mary’s Parish Church, Adderbury, Oxfordshire. An enthusiastic audience turned out for this charity fund-raising event in support of Syrian refugees. Guest speaker Victoria Prentis MP (pictured below and seated in the centre) hosted the Parliamentary launch of this charitable initiative on 5th July 2016 and Victoria explained that all of the funds raised are used to pay the salaries of medical staff working in areas such as war-torn Oleppo and to provide them with medical supplies and resources.

Gospel Bell sings for Syrians

The band were really pleased to discover that one of several representatives attending the event from the Syrian refugee community in the UK had brought his bass guitar with him. He had previously played double bass with a leading orchestra in Syria and so he slotted right in playing lovely bass melody lines. He is pictured with his wife (who celebrated her birthday with us) and (left to right) Sean, Richard and Troy  – together we were an awesome rhythm section!

We’d like to thank Jean and Stephen Fletcher for hosting and organizing the event at St Mary’s, the representatives from the Syrian community in High Wycombe, Victoria Prentis and all who attended a moving and enjoyable celebration of the positive work that ‘Singing for Syrians’ is doing in the aftermath of terrible loss. We felt privileged to play for such a good cause.

Gospel Bell played at the Adderbury Christmas Tree Festival (CTF) organized by St Mary’s, Adderbury on Saturday 09 December. We played an hour-long set to a throng of Festival-goers from 2-3pm. The band were especially encouraged to see quite a number of small children happily jiving away in the aisles and it is heartening to know that the old Gospel songs that we play appeal to all age groups. While we were setting-up, a St Mary’s regular (Ray) came over to say that he’d heard us play in the church on three previous occasions and that he really loves the songs we play – we felt so encouraged! Adderbury’s annual CTF raises around £4,000 for good causes and to assist with on-going restoration work at St Mary’s and it is a joy to play in such a beautiful building. We’d like to thank Emily Reed and Stephen Fletcher, Vicar of St Mary’s for inviting us to play.

(Left to right) Toni, Rachel, Donald, Sean and David

On Thursday 14 December at 7.30pm, Gospel Bell is playing a concert in aid of ‘Singing for Syrians’ in the same venue – St Mary’s Parish Church, Adderbury, Oxfordshire OX17 3LP. This is a charity fund-raising event for Syrian refugees, with guest speaker contributions from the Syrian community in the UK and Victoria Prentis MP. If you are able to join us in support of those who have been affected by long-term conflict in Syria, please come along – the Season of Advent is a time to reflect and share our heart with a hurting world.

At the invitation of Amnesty International (Banbury branch) Gospel Bell played at the Bloxham Christmas Tree Festival (CTF) hosted by St Mary’s, Bloxham, on Sunday 03 December. We played an hour-long set from 4-5pm to an appreciative audience of Festival-goers. The Church looked truly beautiful (we are posing in front of several trees in the photo below) and we’d like to thank Ian Myson and Lesley Mills for the invitation and Dale Gingrich, Vicar of St Mary’s and his team for the opportunity to participate – we really enjoyed the session.

Lesley Mills on behalf of Amnesty International (Banbury branch) writes: A huge thank you to Gospel Bell for your support in making our Christmas Tree Festival at St. Mary’s Church, Bloxham, such a success!! Thank you for the time you all gave up to support our fund-raising event and for sharing your Gospel songs which we loved.