Son et Lumière


This blog is an introduction to an event held recently in the parish.

St Andrew’s Grey Mare Hill
22ndJune 2019

Welcome to this evening of Music, Drama and Poetry in this ancient Church where community has been made and celebrated for over 300 years. We will hear music and poetry reflecting the landscape of this place, we will also meet some of the characters who have lived in and around Grey Mare Hill and we will share something of the lives they lived.


Relax as you listen to music that has been especially commissioned for this evening by Chad Langford, a local composer and musician who lives in the hamlet of Snods Edge. 

Chad’s music is composed using a computer and incorporates rhythmic ‘found’ sounds and material; footsteps, doors locking and unlocking, birdsong and weather, much of which was originally recorded in the church.

A group of local musicians accompany the music, playing an introduction to a traditional song. If you are familiar with the song audience participation is encouraged, the first tune is: The Wind that Shakes the Barley

As the song ends the first of our spoken pieces is heard: Wind Farm Music is a poem written during a walk from Unthank through Shotley Fields, imagining the wind vanes as the wings of angels.

As the music continues to play, a couple enter from the vestry, deep in conversation. Christopher Hunter is a local landowner who lives in Unthank; he is with his wife Elizabeth. Hunter’s memorial can be seen on the rear wall of the Church. Ignoring the audience they continue their conversation as they move slowly through the Church and exit.

A group of children run through the Church laughing and shouting greetings to one another they are followed by a Blacksmith carrying the tools of his trade. He  pauses to read an elegy of his friend John Hedley of Wood House, Black Hedley whose tombstone is in this churchyard.

The elegy is followed by a song Limbo, sung by Ms Victoria Ryrie – a little known traditional song telling the story of a ‘jack the lad’ whose reckless way of life lands him in the Limbo of debtors gaol. It is a song about foolishness, redemption and second chances.

 The Band the plays: Harvest Home and Haste ye to the Wedding.

As the music finishes another couple enter. Humfrey Hopper and his wife rehearse a conversation about Hopper’s intention to build a Mausoleum in memory of himself and his wife. 

As they leave, Dr Carr of Muggleswick appears and introduces a poem that he has written in memory of his friend Nicholas Hopper of Black Hedley.

As Dr Carr withdraws, the two ladies meet and walk through the church in conversation. After they converse the two men are invited to shake hands in resolution of their conflict.

More traditional harp music is heard as the ladies withdraw. 

The harp continues to play accompanying the three poems now read. 

The first poem: On this high ground is inspired by the landscape: The second poem: The Hare Sacred and Mystic Lepus reflects on the sighting of Hares in the Churchyard earlier this year. The concluding poem On this our Day contains a reference to a hymn written by William Westgarth for St. John’s Church, Snods Edge.

The evening concludes with a musical finale of traditional and contemporary songs as the music ends we stand to sing the Hymn In this our day, composed by William Westgarth, who was lay reader of St John’s Church, Shotley, originally a Chapel of Ease in the Parish of St Andrew’s.
 The Performers:

The Band: John Affleck
                 Tanya Mitchell
                  Victoria Ryrie

The Actors: Tom Stukins
                    Beverly Stukins
                    Judith Mackenzie 
                    Hewitt
                    David Swinton

Singer: Victoria Ryrie

Harp: Airlia Appleby

The Composer: Chad Langford

Poetry: Geoff Purcell Smith

Art and photography: Jackie Shaw

Technical Support: John Foreman

The Director: Elizabeth Purcell Smith

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