Patronal Festival Report - Holy Cross, Goodnestone

Holy Cross, Goodnestone
Patron saint: The Holy Cross
Festival date: 14 September 2025

Holy Cross, Goodnestone used its Patronal Festival to reintroduce Choral Evensong to the parish and strengthen local involvement with church music. The day began with community bulb planting along the newly restored church path, with fourteen villagers taking part and coffee and biscuits shared afterwards.

The afternoon Choral Evensong drew a choir of twenty-three singers, reinforced by friends from neighbouring villages, and accompanied by Malcolm Kittle. Smith’s Responses, Stanford in A and Balfour Gardiner’s Evening Hymn were sung with confidence, and the vicar, the Revd Caroline Turvey, cantored Evensong for the first time. Around thirty people attended and feedback was enthusiastic, with strong encouragement to hold further services.

Afterwards the congregation walked to the village hall for refreshments organised by parishioners and choir members. The grant played a key role in making the festival possible, and the parish is already planning ways to build on its success with future Patronal celebrations and more regular Choral Evensongs.