A CELEBRATION of Grasmere Church and Music is being staged on Sunday, July 28 in memory of John F Taylor, who died earlier this year.

John was a major benefactor of Grasmere church and village, his grandfather having purchased Helmside in 1897.

The concert will star John's granddaughter, Victoria Taylor, who will sing; the organ will be played by Ian Hare.

Victoria was a choral scholar at Jesus College, Cambridge, and has freelanced as an alto in the Chapel Choirs of Oxford while pursuing postgraduate studies.

The programme includes organ music by Bach, Franck and Elgar, as well as songs by Sir Arthur Somervell, who had strong local connections, and Vaughan Williams.

The concert will be an opportunity to celebrate the signing of a contract with the prestigious organ builders Nicholson and Co of Malvern to thoroughly renovate the Grasmere organ, starting in the autumn 2020. The work has been enabled by a great many generous grants and donations, especially from the Taylor family who installed it in 1923. Additional contributions would be welcome; further information is available on the church’s new website stoswaldsgrasmere.uk.

The concert starts at 4pm and will last about an hour followed by refreshments. Admission at the door.