We are very excited to announce that on 26th October we will again be hosting the Saffron Walden Symphony Orchestra while they perform Gustav Holst's Planets.
This year marks 150 years since the birth of Gustav Holst who wrote this important work while he lived and was Church Organist in Thaxted.
This is going to be an amazing experience so book early to avoid disappointment.
Thaxted Church
is one of the grandest in the county of Essex, 183 feet long and 87 feet wide, and so beautiful that it may well claim to be the Cathedral of Essex. The Church stands on a hill and dominates the town. From whichever direction the visitor approaches, the splendid spire can be seen many miles away. It has been described as the finest parish church in the country, and has both beauty and grandeur.
The benefactors of old, Edward III and Edward IV, the House of Clare and the Earl of March, supported the Church in the past, but they do not have a modern equivalent. The Church can only survive to serve future generations if it receives financial help from a wider group of 21st century men and women who love and admire it.
Former supporters of The Friends of Thaxted Church include HG Wells and Dame Sybil Thorndyke; we need to continue the restoration work that they started.
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See The Friends Of Thaxted Church Youtube channel for highlights of many of our events including Jupiter from the Planets concert with the Saffron Walden Symphony Orchestra.
We have produced a short film to promote the Church and its links with Gustav Holst.
Holst's 'Planet Suite' was first performed 100 years ago when he was living in Thaxted. The hymn 'I vow to thee my country’, the tune of which was adapted from the theme of 'Jupiter’, has become one of the nation's favourite hymns and was named ‘Thaxted’ by Holst himself.
We realised that Holst had given us the opportunity to celebrate all that is wonderful about Thaxted by creating a short film featuring the Church, the town and its people, woven together by the hymn tune. Our film has now been released and is available to buy on DVD.
Our 50/50 club. Membership runs for a year, September to August. Members pay £1 a month. Each month a draw takes place and the winner receives 50% of the money received for that month. Details and application form can be downloaded here.
See our Facebook page for the most up to date information