Patronal Festival Report - St Peter's Bexhill

St Peter’s, Bexhill
Patron saint: St Peter
Festival date: 29 June 2025

St Peter’s concluded its Patronal Festival with a festal Choral Evensong that filled the church and drew visitors from across the town, local parishes and civic bodies. Support from the grant helped secure a high-quality musical offering, featuring trumpeter Crispian Steele-Perkins, organist John Ross and a demanding anthem by Britten, all directed by Mark Shepherd. The choir sang with confidence, and the congregation contributed with strong hymn singing.

The service followed the Book of Common Prayer and was led by the curate, with full bellringing beforehand creating a celebratory welcome. An enthusiastic reception followed, with local wine and canapés enjoyed by most of the congregation. Feedback, including public praise from Councillor Abul Azad, highlighted the service’s spiritual depth and its success in strengthening community connections.

The festival demonstrated how targeted support can enrich worship, elevate musical standards and foster broad engagement across parish and town.

Order of Service