Patronal Festival Report - Bitton

St Mary’s, Bitton
Patron saint: The Blessed Virgin Mary
Festival date: 7 September

St Mary’s marked its Patronal Festival with a candlelit Choral Evensong that drew more than seventy people, rounding off a busy weekend that also included the well loved annual fete. The service was sung by NotaBene, a Bristol based a cappella ensemble, and opened with a peal of bells. The music featured Bruckner’s Locus iste, Smith’s Responses, Brewer in D and Rutter’s I will sing with the spirit, all beautifully delivered.

Lessons were read by the churchwarden and the fete coordinator, and the service concluded with Rutter’s Gaelic Blessing before a prosecco and canapé reception at the back of the church. Spirits were lifted further by the announcement of an excellent fete total, vital for the upkeep of the historic church. The parish expressed warm thanks for the grant that enabled such a fitting and inspiring finale to the festival weekend, and hopes to make this Patronal Evensong an annual tradition.