A New Chapter for Music at All Saints Church, Upper Sheringham

All Saints Church in Upper Sheringham is embarking on an exciting new musical journey this summer, continuing a tradition of excellence while embracing a fresh setting. For three decades, Cromer Music Evenings has built a reputation for organizing exceptional professional concerts throughout the Cromer area. Now, in a significant transition, this beloved concert series has found a new home in the historic and acoustically remarkable All Saints Church. Since 2023, this picturesque 15th-century village church has already established itself as a welcoming venue for various musical performances, including visiting choirs, orchestras, soloists, and other musicians. The move represents not just a change of location, but an opportunity to blend rich musical heritage with the timeless atmosphere of a medieval church setting.

The Reverend Frank Clarke, who serves as Honorary Assistant Priest and events organizer at All Saints, enthusiastically supports this new partnership, noting that “Community use of churches is encouraged and their wider use for events such as concerts provides not only much-needed financial support but by opening the buildings to a variety of uses, helps to ensure their viability.” This sentiment captures the essence of modern church stewardship—preserving historic buildings by making them vibrant centers of community life. Rev. Clarke particularly highlights the church’s renowned acoustics, which make it “a superb venue for the performance of live music.” The church isn’t resting on its laurels, however; current improvement plans include a new heating system designed to make the space even more inviting for audiences and performers alike, addressing the age-old challenge of keeping historic stone buildings comfortable throughout the year.

Keith Hobday, chairman of Cromer Music Evenings, shares in the excitement surrounding this new chapter, emphasizing their commitment to maintaining the high standards that patrons have come to expect: “We are very much looking forward to this first concert series at our new venue where we will continue to stage performances of a high quality by award-winning musicians with international reputations.” This dedication to excellence was evident in their inaugural performance at All Saints on February 22nd, which showcased five talented young Norfolk musicians—Alena Lei on oboe, Benedict Milne on piano, Isaac Shaad on violin, Ben Griffiths (voice), and Iryna Olinyk on piano. The performance drew an appreciative audience, establishing a promising start to this new musical collaboration and demonstrating the organization’s commitment to supporting emerging local talent alongside established performers.

Looking ahead, the concert series continues with Canadian guitarist Evan Dim, who will present a recital of classical and acoustic guitar pieces on Sunday, March 22nd at 3pm. This performance promises to showcase the church’s celebrated acoustics, which are particularly well-suited to the nuanced tones and intimate expressions of guitar music. The full program and admission prices are available on the Cromer Music Evenings website, providing music lovers with details about the upcoming season. All Saints Church’s convenient location at The Green in Upper Sheringham (NR26 8AE) makes it accessible to residents throughout North Norfolk and beyond, potentially drawing new audiences to experience both the musical performances and the historic church setting. The church’s location in the charming village of Upper Sheringham adds to the appeal of attending concerts there, offering visitors a chance to explore this picturesque corner of Norfolk.

The concert organizers have implemented a straightforward ticketing system, with individual tickets available for purchase at the door for each performance. This approach maintains the spontaneous, community-oriented nature of the events, allowing people to decide to attend even at the last minute. For dedicated music lovers, however, season tickets covering all concerts are also available, offering both convenience and value. Those interested in season tickets can contact Keith directly at [email protected] or by phone at 07763 339052. This dual approach to ticketing reflects the organizers’ desire to make the concerts accessible while also encouraging regular attendance throughout the season. The photograph of All Saints Church, courtesy of Simon Knott at norfolkchurches.co.uk, captures the timeless beauty of this venue, inviting music lovers to experience performances in a setting that combines architectural splendor with acoustic excellence.

This partnership between Cromer Music Evenings and All Saints Church represents a thoughtful approach to preserving cultural traditions while embracing necessary change. By bringing high-quality musical performances to a historic church setting, the organizers are not only continuing a beloved concert series but also contributing to the sustainability of an important heritage building. As Rev. Clarke noted, churches increasingly need to serve multiple purposes within their communities to remain viable, and cultural events like concerts perfectly complement their traditional religious functions. As this summer music series unfolds in Upper Sheringham, it will bring together music lovers, support talented performers, and help sustain a beautiful medieval church—a harmonious arrangement that benefits all involved. Those in North Norfolk with an interest in classical music, historic buildings, or simply seeking enriching cultural experiences would do well to mark these concert dates in their calendars and experience the special atmosphere of All Saints Church filled with beautiful music.