Patronal Festival Report - St Nicholas, Islip

St Nicholas, Islip
Patron saint: St Edward the Confessor
Festival date: 12 October 2025

St Nicholas, Islip marked the Patronal Festival of St Edward the Confessor with a well-attended Choral Evensong led by Canon Brian Mountford. The parish chose to honour St Edward owing to his long association with Islip as his birthplace. Thirty-one local singers formed the choir, directed by Camilla Stephenson with Richard Briggs at the organ. The repertoire included Schubert’s Holy, Holy, Holy, Smith’s Preces and Responses (in Marlow’s four-part arrangement), Bunnett’s Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis, and Rutter’s For the beauty of the earth, along with hymnody from the New English Hymnal. The bells rang beforehand and wine was shared afterwards.

Attendance reached sixty-three, making it one of the strongest gatherings in the Ray Valley Benefice. Regular monthly Evensong has become firmly established, supported by consistent publicity through parish communication channels and local social media. The grant has been a real catalyst, enabling the choir to grow in number and confidence, expand its repertoire, and enhance its contribution to worship throughout the year.