Our Gospel Bell goal is to play and help fund-raise in ancient and beautiful churches, some of which are battling to survive. The earliest parts of the Church of England parish church of All Saints, Mollington, Oxfordshire date from the 14th century and the font is 13th century so there may have been an earlier church building on the site.

We have played at All Saints Mollington on numerous occasions in support of the local church team and the previous Vicar of the Shires Edge Benefice, Revd Hilary Campbell, who asked us to play in all five of her churches and so we were delighted to be invited back by church treasurer, Mike. In fact, Mike invited us to play almost 12 months ago in November 2022 – he was that keen!

On Friday 15 December, we enjoyed a truly memorable evening of singing together and we’d like to thank Mike, Bob and the All Saints team for a really well organised event. Mike writes: Many thanks again to Gospel Bell for last night’s performance.  It really was a lovely, joyous evening. You are the most genuine and generous group we could hope to meet.  We raised over £260 and, as a certain supermarket advert says: every little helps!

Our thanks to Becky, Ian and all who helped to make the Christmas Concert fundraising event for St Mary’s Bloxham such a lovely evening. The first half consisted of a wide range of Christmas-themed music performed by the St Mary’s Choir, Music Group and soloists, with audience participation. After the refreshment interval, we played a 50 minute set with excellent audience chorus singing. A fantastic evening with a rich array of music in a beautiful setting!

Ian, Chair – Friends of St Mary’s Bloxham writes:

Your set was clearly greatly enjoyed by the audience and nicely complemented the first half from the church choir and music group. Sitting as I was near the back I had a good sense of the toe-tapping and sing-a-long you were generating amongst the masses in front of me! Funds raised from the evening are climbing towards £500 which is good considering this was a donations-only event on a rather blustery, inhospitable evening, and this has been a significant element of a varied Friends’ Christmas Programme of fundraising activities. Thanks again for putting heart and soul into performing to help us as you’ve done. It’s really appreciated.