We are inviting everyone in Brackley to join us in celebrating 800 years of St Peter’s Church. Throughout 2023 we are hosting a variety of events for all the community to enjoy and to raise vital funds for our 800 appeal. Discover what's on below.
All events will be held at St Peter's Church unless otherwise stated.
We look forward to welcoming you!
Wreath Making
Saturday 25 November & Wednesday 29 November
Enjoy a festive, creative time making your own Christmas wreath. All materials supplied. Choose from one of three sessions (click the link to book your ticket):
Tickets will be on sale from 1 September.
Jubilee Choir Concert
Saturday 25 November
Enjoy music sung by Brackley’s mixed voice choir, the Jubilee Choir. The concert will premiere "St Peter's Gloria", an original work composed to mark the church's octocentenary.
800 Celebration Christmas Ball
Saturday 9 December
Evening
An extravagant gala Christmas ball with a three-course meal, entertainment and dancing to live music. This special black-tie event - held at Egerton Hall - rounds off our year of 800 celebrations. Adults only. Tickets cost £75. Click here to book online.
Butterfly Installation
Ongoing all year
Help us to make a display of over 800 butterflies to celebrate 800 years of St Peters Church. Butterflies are available to buy in church or from Edd Frost and Daughters in the Market Place. £1 for a small butterfly, £2 for a medium sized butterfly and £3 for a large butterfly. Decorate your butterfly then return to church to add it to our installation.
Past events
Soup & Sing
Saturday 28 January
11am - 1.30pm
Enjoy a light lunch and a fun group singing session of well known and popular songs. Make new friends and enjoy brightening up a January day. Tickets are available from Caroline Dunning. Call 07845397168 to book.
Beetle Drive
Wednesday 15 February
2 - 4pm
Come and enjoy a half term holiday Beetle Drive. This is a lively and sociable activity for adults and children to enjoy playing together. Players take turns to roll a dice and can draw the corresponding body part to their beetle. The first player to draw a complete beetle wins! Entry cost is £1 and can be paid on the day. Drinks will be available.
Kids' Film Afternoon
Saturday 25 February
3 - 5pm
Come and watch Sing 2!£5 per child with a hot dog and drink included in the price. Free entry for parents/carers with hot dogs and drinks available to purchase. Tickets can be purchased here or from Denise: call 07517656901 or email bensie5459@gmail.com
Quiz Night with Fish & Chips
Saturday 18 March
7pm
Our ever-popular quiz night will be back in March. Come as a team or by yourself and be put into one. Bring your own drinks. Tickets are £15 per person - which includes a fish and chips supper - and can be purchased here or from Yvette Morello by calling 07860 823068.
Book Swap & Sale
Cake Sale
Friday 24 March
10 - 11.30am
Donate your unwanted books and discover some new ones to liven up your reading. Held in the church hall, a selection of cakes will be available to buy.
Local History Talk with Cheese & Wine
Friday 24 March
7pm
Chris Bazeley will give a talk on ‘The History of the Privy’ – serious history presented in a light-hearted way! Afterwards, cheese and wine will be served while you can browse a second-hand book sale. Tickets are available here or from Denise: call 07517656901 or email bensie5459@gmail.com.
Art Exhibition
Friday 28 –
Sunday 30 April
Artwork from Brackley schools on a Medieval theme will be on display in the church. Come along to enjoy the displays and vote for your favourite work of art (£2 for a voting slip, which can be purchased at the event). Prizes will be awarded to the winning exhibitor in each category (KS1, KS2 and KS3). Free entry and refreshments will be available to buy. Children can also buy and decorate a butterfly as part of our butterfly installation. Opening times: Fri & Sat 10am-4pm, Sun 1-4pm.
Coronation Livestream
Saturday 6 May
Share this one-in-a-generation event with others by joining us in the Church to watch the Coronation of King Charles III. We will be open and livestreaming coverage from 9am. Refreshments will be available. No need to book - just turn up!
800 Celebration Service
Sunday 11 June
9.30am
Join us for a special 800 celebration service of St Peter's Church. We will be joined by the Bishop, Mayor, Town Council, local MP and High Sheriff.
Brides & Blooms Flower Festival
Friday 23 June -
Sunday 25 June
Bridal dresses from different eras will be on show together with wedding floral displays and photographs of past weddings held at St Peters Church. If you wish to take part in the flower festival please contact Sally, the church flower co-ordinator, on 01280 700778. If you have a wedding dress you would like to share for the festival please contact Kath on 07568 572264. Entrance is £3 and payable on the door.
Family Fun Day
Sunday 9 July
11.30am-3pm
We will be holding a picnic in the churchyard for all the family to enjoy on this Formula 1 weekend. Children can enjoy their own race circuit around the churchyard as well as a teddy parachute drop from the church tower. The event is free to attend but please bring your own picnic.
Local History Talk with Cheese and Wine
Saturday 15 July
7pm
An illustrated introduction to the history of Brackley’s iconic parish church followed by delicious refreshments and then a talk by Professor John Clarke entitled "A Brackley Church Family". Tickets cost £12.50 and are available here or from Rosemary Leeper on 01280 703166 / 07788795632
Ride & Stride
Saturday 9 September
Ride & Stride is a great way to enjoy getting out and about as well as raising much-needed funds through sponsorship. You can walk, cycle or even ride your horse between participating churches. Funds raised are split between the Historic Churches Trusts and St Peter’s Church.
Harvest Supper
Saturday 23 September
6.30-10pm
Celebrate the start of Harvest Festival at our harvest supper. Enjoy a performance of a Mummers Play. Adults £15, children under 14 £7.50. Tickets will go on sale from 12 August and can be purchased here.
Local Nature Talk
Saturday 7 October
7pm
This event has been postponed until 2024.
Soup & Sing
Saturday 14 October 11am-1.30pm
Enjoy a light lunch and a fun group singing session of well known and popular songs. Make new friends and enjoy brightening up an autumnal day. £10 per adult. Tickets are available to purchase here or from Denise Johnson:
07517 656901
Brackley Band Mid-Summer Concert
Sunday 16 July
3-5pm
Join us for tea, cake and wonderful tunes from the Brackley & District Band. All proceeds from this concert will go to the St Peter’s 800 appeal. Tickets cost £7 and can be purchased here or from Jacky on 07970 583342 .
Medieval Banquet
Saturday 22 July
6.30 - 11pm
Join us for a spectacular evening steeped in history in the wonderful setting of Winchester House School. Enjoy a three-course Medieval supper followed by fun and dancing. Medieval costume is optional! Tickets cost £50 and can be purchased here.
Holiday Club
21 - 25 August
Mornings
Each August we run a holiday club for children of primary school age focussed on fun, friendship and faith. These are full of activities, games and age-appropriate Christian teaching. In 2023, the theme is “The King’s Quest” to tie in with the church’s 800-year anniversary. Book your child in now.
Barn Dance
Friday 8 September
7-10pm
Join us at The Venue, home of Brackley Town Football Club for an evening of barn dancing led by Sleeping Moggy. A light supper will be served in the interval to help keep our energy levels up! Drinks available from the bar. Tickets cost £10 and can be purchased here.(Children under 16 go free.)
Find out more
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If you have any questions about our 800 celebrations or appeal, please get in touch with Robin.