ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT revelation st mary ’ s
Nestled just off Ashford High Street is the 14th-century St Mary the Virgin Church – warm , intimate , quaint , the very picture of what a country church should be , slightly at odds with being just a stone ’ s throw from a bustling high street .
Jon Boden © David Angel
© Lewis Brockway Seth Lakeman
But it ’ s a church with a difference as just five years ago it opened its doors as Revelation St Mary ’ s – a unique music venue at the heart of Ashford ’ s arts scene . What makes this place so special is the passion of all those involved , with just one full-time member of staff and two part timers , RSM ( a registered charity ) relies on its amazing team of volunteers and its board of trustees , who help run the box office and bar , steward events and anything else required .
This revolutionary approach to arts programming ( the church is still a working church ) is nothing new for Ashford who were also one of the first to embrace the concept of shared space with great success .
Amazingly for a town that ’ s central to international travel and business , Ashford has no major arts venue but is home to a number of great arts organisations including Rose Bruford College and Jasmin Vardimon dance and Ashford realised it needed a venue of its own .
Following major investment and support from both Ashford Borough Council and Arts Council England , RSM opened its doors in 2011 , with an exceptional acoustic , high quality sound and projection system plus an ambition to transform the arts scene in Ashford . Five years later it ’ s well on its way , welcoming international artists such as Courtney Pine and Martha Wainwright , performers such as Gaz Coombes , Toploader and the Unthanks to name but a few , along with rising stars Ezra Furman , Coco and the Butterfields and Johnnie Flynn , quickly gaining a reputation on the circuit as a truly unique venue .
Creative directors Anna Moulson of Melting Vinyl and Matthew Sharp , make sure RSM has an eclectic mix of contemporary and classical from Minnesota indie-rock band Low on 1st August to the wonderful acapella Voice with celebrated US cellist Matt Haimovitz on 6th August .
But it doesn ’ t stop there . RSM has just launched a great new series of kids ’ concerts : Wheels on Debussy aimed at pre-schoolers and parents – a truly relaxed affair combing craft , coffee and cakes and top-quality music where children dance around and just have fun ; the Curiosity Club , a series of entertaining talks and lectures with the fantastic Dave Bramwell , Sony awardwinning presenter on BBC Radio 3 and 4 ; plus upcoming concerts with the amazing Jon Boden from Bellowhead on 12th November and a special Christmas performance by the stunning Seth Lakeman on 10th December .
So take a trip to Ashford and visit Revelation St Mary ’ s – you never know what you might find . Visit www . revelationstmarys . co . uk for full programme details or call 01233 633201 .
Where is Revelation St Mary ’ s ? St Mary the Virgin The Churchyard , Ashford , Kent TN23 1QG
Just off the M20 Junction 9 40min from Medway 30min from Folkestone and Canterbury
10min walk form Ashford International Station
Free parking in Tufton Street after 6pm – just five mins walk from venue
Want to get involved ? Revelation St Mary ’ s is always looking for volunteers to help with a range of opportunities on offer from marketing to stewarding , technical to admin . For further information contact kate @ revelationstmarys . co . uk
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