Melbourne 900
Throughout 2025 we celebrated the 900th anniversary of the magnificent building that is Melbourne Parish Church. There was a full programme of services, talks, events and concerts from January to December, which were enjoyed by many people from the local community and visitors from far beyond. We thank everyone who contributed.
Here is a full list of what we got up to:
January 12th
Service of Thanksgiving for Nine Centuries
March 22nd
Acts of Devotion
Performed by the Derwent Singers
April
A Timeline
Displaying historical events, locally and nationally, since the year 1125 AD (click here)
April 3rd
Talk by Historian Philip Heath
7.30pm: “A chequered history of Melbourne Parish Church over 900 years”.
May 15th
Talk by Margaret Gildea
7.30pm: “Who murdered the Princes in the Tower - A Whodunnit” (a Friends’ event)
May 17th
Vintage & Handmade Fayre
11am - 3pm
May 24th-26th
Community Flower Festival
10am - 5pm Melbourne: Past, Present & Future
June 5th
Talk by William Bates
7.30pm: The Contentious Restoration of the Parish Church, 1820-1870 (a Friends’ event)
June 14th
Historical Re-enactment by ‘Chevaliers du Leon’
Medieval Fayre and Hog Roast.
July 4th
Evening Medieval Banquet
With lute music and entertainment by Lesley Smith.
July 19th
A Choir’d Taste Morning Coffee Concert
10am - 12pm
July 19th
Architectural and Historical tour
Of the church and surroundings with Historian Philip Heath, 2pm
August 16th
Architectural and Historical tour
Of the church and surroundings with Historian Philip Heath, 2pm
August 24th - 29th
Artistic Exhibition “Wild Saints”
by local Artist Michael Cook and fellow artists.
August 28th, 1.30-3.30 pm
Sketch & Stroll
A "beginners walk-shop" around the church looking at the beautiful stonework and exterior and then the stunning stained glass, stone carvings and artefacts inside.
September 6th
Melbourne Allotment Produce Show
10am-3pm
September 20th/21st
Melbourne Festival Art and Architecture Trail
September 22nd
The King, his Chaplin and the Building of Melbourne Parish Church
A talk by Dr. Rachel Askew, Dept of Medieval History at the University of Leicester
September 25th
Graham Oppenheimer and Friends Chamber Music: Stars of the Future
7.30pm (a Friends’ event)
September 28th
Patronal Festival
Eucharist: 10.30am, Choral Evensong: 6.30pm
October 2nd
Talk by Historian Philip Heath
7.30pm: “A chequered history of Melbourne Parish Church over 900 years”
October 17th/18th
St Michael’s Players - 900 Years of Hysterical History
A humorous review of the last 900 years in Melbourne - 7-9.30pm at Melbourne Assembly Rooms
November 6th
The Phantom of the Opera
Silent film with music by Minima, 7.30pm (a Friends’ event)
November 29th
Christmas Fayre
10.30am - 2.30pm
December 5th
Jazz night: A Christmas Carol with Alan Barnes
7.30pm (a Friends’ event)
December 14th -20th
Celebration Service and Launch of Christmas Tree Festival
December 14th
Christmas Tree Festival
Our 900-Year Timeline
As part of the celebrations for the 900th anniversary of Melbourne Parish Church we began a digital timeline. What you see here is just a beginning. We will continue to populate the timeline with more information, stories and images of the church over the centuries.
We welcome comments and contributions.
If you have something to contribute please contact the Melbourne Parish Church Archivist, Kevin Crisp by email (mpc.archivist@gmail.com)
We have produced some souvenirs to mark the 900th anniversary. View the list here
The 900 Golden Brew
The Spirit Vaults, just opposite the church on the other side of Church Street, has brewed a special ale to mark the anniversary – a smooth, golden brew made using local hops.
The beer is available in bottles from Melbourne Parish Church (contact our Parish office on melbourneparishchurch@gmail.com) and from The Spirit Vaults. Also available in draft from the Spirit Vaults itself.
A proportion of all sales will go towards funding the 900-year celebrations.