Arts and Music

Steeple Aston Church Bellringers

The aim of the Steeple Aston Church Bellringers is to ring the Church bells on Sundays and for other services such as weddings. They meet in Steeple Aston Church tower for practice every Tuesday at 7.30pm and also on Sundays half an hour before the service.

The Bellringers are a very sociable group and welcome visitors. They also have many social events through the year.

Anyone over the age of 10 is welcome to join the group. The only proviso is that you must be able to climb the stairs.

Membership is free for the first year, then £6.50 per year. If you are interested in joining, either give Graham a call to discuss ringing or just turn up on a practice night and have a try.

Steeple Aston Handbell Ringers

The main purpose of the Handbell Ringers is to play Christmas carols door-to-door round Steeple and Middle Aston in the two weeks leading up to Christmas. They choose a different charity to collect for every year.

They meet to practise on Sunday evenings at 7.30pm in a member's house. Meetings start in September if they have been asked to entertain for a given function, but in late October if they are just practising carols.

The handbells are the property of the parish church and it is traditional that handbell ringers are church bell ringers as well. Anyone over the age of 10 is welcome to join the group. You don't necessarily have to be able to read music as they play by numbers.

Membership is free. If you are interested in joining the Handbell Ringers, contact Sally or Graham.

Contact: Sally Cooper, Handbell Captain
Tel: 01869 347173
Graham Cooper, Church Tower Captain
Tel: 01869 347273

Steeple Aston Players

Steeple Aston Players are a fairly small group of people who share an interest in live theatre. Their most recent productions have included The Prince of Darkness, a pantomime, (written by Roger Mason of Northside) and two one act plays.

Their productions are normally staged on three nights (including highly successful Dinner Nights) at the Village Hall. They have a good team of enthusiasts who show their skills both on and back stage!

They try to get together in The Red Lion once a month (usually on a Wednesday) for readings and a chat. When they are staging a production rehearsals are twice weekly in the village hall.

New members are very welcome. The group is open to all ages and the cost of membership is £5 a year. If you are thinking of joining the Players, you should contact Yoni.

Contact: Yoni Kinory , Secretary

Steeple Aston Choral Society

The Choral Society puts on three concerts a year generally in the village hall. The autumn and winter concerts are usually an oratorio, mass or other sacred music and the spring/summer concert is fairly light hearted comprising part songs, readings and possibly some instrumental music.

At Christmas, the society invites the village to the last rehearsal before Christmas for an evening of suitable entertainment. Individual members form an ad-hoc choir to put on music in the parish church for special occasions and the Christmas carol service.

Members meet for rehearsals in the village hall every Monday evening at 8.00pm. Membership is open to all singers age 18 and above. An ability to read music is helpful; an ability to sing in tune is essential. All parts are welcome. If you are interested in joining, either contact Derek (details below) or you can just turn up to a rehearsal. Membership costs £20 per term.

Sadly their long-term conductor, Michael Broadway, died recently and they are now looking for a replacement. They would welcome any qualified volunteer to conduct a small but enthusiastic choir. If you know anyone or are interested yourself, please contact Derek. Details below.

Forthcoming events

Saturday December 6 - Fauré's Requiem, in the Village Hall at 8pm