Adderbury, Deddington & District Photographic Society meet each first Wednesday of the month at 7.30pm in Adderbury Institute. The ‘district ‘in the title encompasses all villages around Steeple Aston.
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.
They also ring the bells on special occasions. Following their successful ringing of a quarter peal to mark the Queen’s 90th birthday on April 21st 2016, Steeple Aston Bell ringers and friends took on the much more arduous task of ringing a full peal for her official birthday on Sunday, 12th June 2016.
The ringers taking part, pictured here, were (l to r): Lawrence White (SA), Malcolm Hensher (SA), Michael Austin (Hook Norton), Daniel Austin (Hook Norton), Sally Austin (Hook Norton), Alan Griffin (Bloxham), Graham Clifton (conductor) (SA), Nicholas Powell (SA).
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.
There is no fee to pay but when you are able to handle a bell you may become a member of the Oxford Diocesan Guild of Church Bell Ringers, for which an annual subscription is £9. 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.
Contact
Graham Clifton, Church Tower Captain
Tel: 01869 347273
Email: gjclifton@btinternet.com
Website: https://steepleastonbellringers.com/
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 Vicky or Graham.
Contact
Victoria Clifton, Handbell Captain
Email: vmcstedman@btinternet.com
Tel: 07817025948
Steeple Aston Choral Society (SACS)
Steeple Aston Choral Society was founded by former village Rector, Michael Hayter and is still going strong, more than six decades later. The Society is privileged to have Paul Badley, a professional solo and ensemble singer who has performed all over the world, as its director and Paul Herrington, an accomplished pianist, composer, arranger and educator, as its accompanist.
The choir numbers around thirty singers and is happy to welcome new members. There are no auditions, but potential members should enjoy music making and be happy embracing a wide range of musical genres, while socialising with others who love singing.
The choir performs three concerts, with professional soloists, each year, – one in the church, one in the village hall and one in either venue (depending on the works being performed.) The summer concert is generally lighter music, with generous amounts of audience participation.
Rehearsals are on Monday evenings from 7.45-9.30pm in the Village Hall.
Contact
Margaret Bulleyment, SACS Secretary
Tel: 01869 347346
Email: mtheb749@gmail.com
www.facebook.com/steepleastonchoralsociety
www.savh.org.uk (Regular Events)
Steeple Aston Choral Society’s Constitution
SACS Concert Calendar 2026
Tickets £12.00 (Children under 16 free) can be purchased from SACS members, from the village shop, or from Margaret Bulleyment 01869 347346 or www.mtheb749@gmail.com.
Saturday 19 September – The Trumpets Shall Sound – 6.30 for 7pm – SA Village Hall
A fun-filled evening of music in a variety of genres performed by
Brian Thomas and Harry Kent (trumpets) and Paul Herrington, piano
Scott Joplin, Irving Berlin, Bach, Haydn, Gershwin, Purcell, Lloyd-Webber, Handel and John Williams to name but a few and you get to join in.
Paul Herrington will also perform one of his celebrated ‘off the cuff’ improvisations
Table seating (8 to a table) Bar and nibbles
A concert in aid of the SACS Music Fund
Sunday 22 November – Autumn Concert – A Celebration of John Rutter
7pm – SA Village Church
Folksongs, anthems and carols in celebration of seven decades of compositions for every occasion
For more information, or if you would like to sing with us, please contact Margaret Bulleyment (details above)
