High Altar, Old Saint Paul's
Sunday 14th August 10.30am
Sacred Arts Festival
Opening Church Service
High Mass for the Feast of the Assumption
Scottish Liturgy (1970)
Mass in E Op. 13 Léonce de Saint-Martin
(Vierne’s successor at Notre Dame, Paris)
Anthems:
Salve regina Gabriel Jackson
Blessed is she who has believed Frances Matthews
Preacher: Revd Professor Gordon Graham MA PhD FRSE
Chair of the Edinburgh Sacred Arts Foundation
Old St Paul's Episcopal Church, Jeffrey Street
ALL WELCOME
Admission Free Tickets (optional) Fringe Box Office and Eventbrite
Sacred Arts Festival
Opening Church Service
High Mass for the Feast of the Assumption
Scottish Liturgy (1970)
Mass in E Op. 13 Léonce de Saint-Martin
(Vierne’s successor at Notre Dame, Paris)
Anthems:
Salve regina Gabriel Jackson
Blessed is she who has believed Frances Matthews
Preacher: Revd Professor Gordon Graham MA PhD FRSE
Chair of the Edinburgh Sacred Arts Foundation
Old St Paul's Episcopal Church, Jeffrey Street
ALL WELCOME
Admission Free Tickets (optional) Fringe Box Office and Eventbrite
Music
Monday 15th August
7.30 pm
The Most Spiritual of the Arts
Schola Cantorum sings the music of
Sir James MacMillan
works include the Strathclyde Motets, Hymn to the Blessed Sacrament, and Ave Maria.
Director: Michael Ferguson
with Sir James MacMillan in conversation
Sir James MacMillan is Scotland’s most distinguished composer, and Patron of Music at St Mary’s Catholic Cathedral. In the course of this recital, which coincides with the Cathedral's Patronal Feast of the Assumption, Sir James talks about the relation between faith and music with Michael Ferguson, Director of the Schola Cantorum.
St Mary’s Catholic Cathedral, York Place
Tickets £15 from Fringe Box Office, Eventbrite and at the door
7.30 pm
The Most Spiritual of the Arts
Schola Cantorum sings the music of
Sir James MacMillan
works include the Strathclyde Motets, Hymn to the Blessed Sacrament, and Ave Maria.
Director: Michael Ferguson
with Sir James MacMillan in conversation
Sir James MacMillan is Scotland’s most distinguished composer, and Patron of Music at St Mary’s Catholic Cathedral. In the course of this recital, which coincides with the Cathedral's Patronal Feast of the Assumption, Sir James talks about the relation between faith and music with Michael Ferguson, Director of the Schola Cantorum.
St Mary’s Catholic Cathedral, York Place
Tickets £15 from Fringe Box Office, Eventbrite and at the door
Wednesday 17th August
1.15pm - 2.15pm
Olivier Messiaen
Quartet for the End of Time
Simon Smith - Piano
Allison Stringer - Violin
Calum Robertson - Clarinet
Christoff Fourie - Cello
Olivier Messiaen’s Quartet for the End of Time, for clarinet, violin, cello and piano was written when Messiaen was a prisoner of war in German captivity and first performed in 1941 by fellow prisoners. Inspired by verses from the Book of Revelation, it is widely regarded as one of Messiaen’s most important works.
Canongate Kirk - The Kirk of Holyroodhouse and Edinburgh Castle
Tickets £15 from Fringe Box Office, Eventbrite and at the door
Thursday 18th August
7.30pm
Henry Purcell
Music Sacred and Secular
The Howe Street Band, leader Ruth Slater
Director Les Shankland
Henry Purcell (1659- 95) is widely regarded as one of the greatest English composers, developing a uniquely English Baroque style in both sacred and secular music. This concert performance of Purcell’s celebrated opera Dido and Anaeas sets it alongside the sumptuous verse anthems he composed for the Restoration Chapel Royal where he was a boy chorister and subsequently organist.
St Vincent’s Chapel Stockbridge, St Stephen Street
Tickets £15 from Fringe Box Office, Eventbrite and at the door
7.30pm
Henry Purcell
Music Sacred and Secular
The Howe Street Band, leader Ruth Slater
Director Les Shankland
Henry Purcell (1659- 95) is widely regarded as one of the greatest English composers, developing a uniquely English Baroque style in both sacred and secular music. This concert performance of Purcell’s celebrated opera Dido and Anaeas sets it alongside the sumptuous verse anthems he composed for the Restoration Chapel Royal where he was a boy chorister and subsequently organist.
St Vincent’s Chapel Stockbridge, St Stephen Street
Tickets £15 from Fringe Box Office, Eventbrite and at the door
Friday 19th August
8pm
'In Every Corner Sing'
The Choir of Old Saint Paul's
Director John Kitchen
Vaughan Williams Five Mystical Songs
Claire McCue Kneeling, for solo clarinet and unaccompanied choir (commissioned in 2014 by Calum Robertson)
James MacMillan Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis
Old Saint Paul's Church, Jeffrey Street
Tickets £15 from Fringe Box Office, Eventbrite and at the door
8pm
'In Every Corner Sing'
The Choir of Old Saint Paul's
Director John Kitchen
Vaughan Williams Five Mystical Songs
Claire McCue Kneeling, for solo clarinet and unaccompanied choir (commissioned in 2014 by Calum Robertson)
James MacMillan Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis
Old Saint Paul's Church, Jeffrey Street
Tickets £15 from Fringe Box Office, Eventbrite and at the door
Visual
Sunday 14th August
3pm - 4pm
&
Monday 15th August
11am -12noon
Painting the Way of the Cross
The Peter Rauth Stations of the Cross.
Guided Tour and Talk
‘Painting the Way of the Cross’ The fourteen huge paintings in the Jesuit Church in Edinburgh (each 8X16 feet), which meditate on the passion and death of Jesus Christ, are the largest of their kind in Europe. This hour-long talk and tour with Adrian Porter sj will explore these remarkable works by Bavarian artist, Peter Rauth (1828-96), and the sacred music, text and ritual that accompany them. The paintings were created between 1871 and 1874, the cost of the commission being raised by donations from the people of the parish. The paintings were blessed and formally opened in 1875. Restoration work was carried out on all fourteen paintings between 1999 and 2002, and they are once again as vibrant as when they were created.
Church of the Sacred Heart, Lauriston Street.
Tickets Aug 14th £5 from Fringe Box Office, Eventbrite, and at the door
Tickets Aug 15th £5 from Fringe Box Office, Eventbrite, and at the door
3pm - 4pm
&
Monday 15th August
11am -12noon
Painting the Way of the Cross
The Peter Rauth Stations of the Cross.
Guided Tour and Talk
‘Painting the Way of the Cross’ The fourteen huge paintings in the Jesuit Church in Edinburgh (each 8X16 feet), which meditate on the passion and death of Jesus Christ, are the largest of their kind in Europe. This hour-long talk and tour with Adrian Porter sj will explore these remarkable works by Bavarian artist, Peter Rauth (1828-96), and the sacred music, text and ritual that accompany them. The paintings were created between 1871 and 1874, the cost of the commission being raised by donations from the people of the parish. The paintings were blessed and formally opened in 1875. Restoration work was carried out on all fourteen paintings between 1999 and 2002, and they are once again as vibrant as when they were created.
Church of the Sacred Heart, Lauriston Street.
Tickets Aug 14th £5 from Fringe Box Office, Eventbrite, and at the door
Tickets Aug 15th £5 from Fringe Box Office, Eventbrite, and at the door
Trumpeting Angels
Tuesday 16th August
1pm - 2.30pm
&
Thursday 18th August
1pm - 2.30pm
Painting Heaven on Earth
The Phoebe Anna Traquair murals
Between 1893 and 1901 the acclaimed Edinburgh based artist Phoebe Anna Traquair (1852-1936) painted spectacular murals for the Catholic Apostolic Church, designed by the renowned Scottish architect R R Anderson. The murals depict both biblical stories and Christian themes, intended to serve as a fitting background for worship in the rich Catholic Apostolic style. The Church closed in 1958, and fell into serious disrepair. In 1992, after nearly 30 years of neglect, The Friends of Mansfield Church came into existence and campaigned to preserve the structure and repair the murals. With the help of a Heritage Lottery Fund grant, the campaign eventually succeeded and in 2005 the building was finally restored to its former glory. This guided tour, with introductory talk, is an ideal opportunity to visit and learn about this astonishing, but still relatively unknown place.
Mansfield -Traquair, Mansfield Place
Tickets £8 from Fringe Box Office and at the door
1pm - 2.30pm
&
Thursday 18th August
1pm - 2.30pm
Painting Heaven on Earth
The Phoebe Anna Traquair murals
Between 1893 and 1901 the acclaimed Edinburgh based artist Phoebe Anna Traquair (1852-1936) painted spectacular murals for the Catholic Apostolic Church, designed by the renowned Scottish architect R R Anderson. The murals depict both biblical stories and Christian themes, intended to serve as a fitting background for worship in the rich Catholic Apostolic style. The Church closed in 1958, and fell into serious disrepair. In 1992, after nearly 30 years of neglect, The Friends of Mansfield Church came into existence and campaigned to preserve the structure and repair the murals. With the help of a Heritage Lottery Fund grant, the campaign eventually succeeded and in 2005 the building was finally restored to its former glory. This guided tour, with introductory talk, is an ideal opportunity to visit and learn about this astonishing, but still relatively unknown place.
Mansfield -Traquair, Mansfield Place
Tickets £8 from Fringe Box Office and at the door
Exhibition
Thursday 18th - Saturday 20th August
10am - 4pm.
The Art of Illumination
Helen White
Illumination (the use of gold or other metals to embellish a painting) has its roots in the beautiful manuscripts of medieval times.
Contemporary illuminator, Helen White, uses the same gilding techniques as her medieval predecessors, and her work is frequently inspired by medieval designs. Like medieval craftsmen, she also looks to Creation for inspiration. Helen delights in fine detail, and often incorporates tiny jewels into her work. This exhibition will include examples of Helen’s ‘illuminated rose windows’ as well as the ‘illuminated meditations’ from her book, ‘A Place of Grace’.
Admission Free, Tickets (optional) Fringe Box Office and Eventbrite
Friday 19th and Saturday 20th August
11am -12noon
Helen will introduce the Art of Illumination with an illustrated talk in which she will explain the traditional techniques used to apply gold, the historical context, and the inspirations behind her own work.
St Vincent’s Chapel Stockbridge, St Stephen Street
Tickets Aug 19th £8 from Fringe Box Office, Eventbrite and at the door
Tickets Aug 20th £8 from Fringe Box Office, Eventbrite and at the door
Poetry
Milky Way
Friday 19th August
2pm
‘Love of Creation: poetry’s power for the present’
Director: Christine De Luca
with flautist Katharine Wake
Many people find that their faith is closely associated with the natural world. Its immensity and harmony; its mystery and its healing properties can engender a kind of spiritual elevation, some might call transcendence. People who find faith difficult – genuine agnostics, and even atheists – can share that sense of wonder and mystery, even awe. Yet, we cannot ignore environmental issues. Policies and targets have their part to play, but underlying it all is the idea that we must put a fresh premium on caring for and about the natural world. Christians see God in creation, and while human beings may be the summit of that creation, they are neither its centre nor its sole purpose. This session aims to reveal how poetry and music can bring to mind a sense of nature as creation and gift.
St Vincent's Chapel Stockbridge, St Stephen Street
Tickets £8 from Fringe Box Office, Eventbrite and at the door
Friday 19th August
2pm
‘Love of Creation: poetry’s power for the present’
Director: Christine De Luca
with flautist Katharine Wake
Many people find that their faith is closely associated with the natural world. Its immensity and harmony; its mystery and its healing properties can engender a kind of spiritual elevation, some might call transcendence. People who find faith difficult – genuine agnostics, and even atheists – can share that sense of wonder and mystery, even awe. Yet, we cannot ignore environmental issues. Policies and targets have their part to play, but underlying it all is the idea that we must put a fresh premium on caring for and about the natural world. Christians see God in creation, and while human beings may be the summit of that creation, they are neither its centre nor its sole purpose. This session aims to reveal how poetry and music can bring to mind a sense of nature as creation and gift.
St Vincent's Chapel Stockbridge, St Stephen Street
Tickets £8 from Fringe Box Office, Eventbrite and at the door
Dance and Drama
Sunday 14th August 7.30pm
Divine Dance presents
John the Baptist and the Bees
This story told in movement, music and words starts off in the Middle East with John the Baptist, a voice crying in the wilderness, living with bees in the desert. It then moves forward to the eco crisis of today, involving bees and all living things. Danced by Tamar and narrated by wordsmith Lizzie Smith, with Dara on harp. Tamar is a passionate dancer who expresses and interprets music, emotions and life through movement. Scottish singer and poet, Lizzie’s first poetry collection Mermaid on Legs was published by Indigo Dreams in 2020. Dara Watson is an Edinburgh based harpist who is versatile in genres such as trad and blues, experimenting with percussive techniques and effects pedals.
St Michael and All Saints', Brougham Street, Toll Cross
Tickets £8 from Fringe Box Office, Eventbrite and at the door
Tuesday 16th August
7.30pm
&
Wednesday 17th August
7.30pm
Cutting Edge Theatre
presents
Hope Rises
A group of people arrive in a city which has opened its gates to those who have been displaced through no fault of their own. They are fleeing oppression and violence. Finding refuge, they meet together to begin a new life. They are left with very little hope but the one thing they do have is their history, their experience of a man who changed the world. Those stories must be preserved and passed on to the next generation. Gradually they begin to share those stories with a wider community. The story goes on…
Old St Paul's Episcopal Church, Jeffrey Street
Tickets Aug 16th £15 from Fringe Box Office, Eventbrite and at the door
Tickets Aug 17th £15 from Fringe Box Office, Eventbrite and at the door
Tuesday 16th August
7.30pm
&
Wednesday 17th August
7.30pm
Cutting Edge Theatre
presents
Hope Rises
A group of people arrive in a city which has opened its gates to those who have been displaced through no fault of their own. They are fleeing oppression and violence. Finding refuge, they meet together to begin a new life. They are left with very little hope but the one thing they do have is their history, their experience of a man who changed the world. Those stories must be preserved and passed on to the next generation. Gradually they begin to share those stories with a wider community. The story goes on…
Old St Paul's Episcopal Church, Jeffrey Street
Tickets Aug 16th £15 from Fringe Box Office, Eventbrite and at the door
Tickets Aug 17th £15 from Fringe Box Office, Eventbrite and at the door
Saturday 20th August
4pm
Sacred Arts Festival
Closing Church Service
Choral Evensong
The Chapterhouse Singers
Les Shankland, Director of Music St Vincent's Chapel
The singing of evening prayer is a centuries old Anglican tradition with an exceptionally rich musical inheritance, including a distinctive form of chanted psalms. On this occasion the musical setting is George Dyson’s Evening Service in F major, and the anthem is Geistliche Leid by Johannes Brahms.
St Vincent's Chapel Stockbridge
ALL WELCOME
Admission Free, donations invited Tickets (optional) Fringe Box Office and Eventbrite
4pm
Sacred Arts Festival
Closing Church Service
Choral Evensong
The Chapterhouse Singers
Les Shankland, Director of Music St Vincent's Chapel
The singing of evening prayer is a centuries old Anglican tradition with an exceptionally rich musical inheritance, including a distinctive form of chanted psalms. On this occasion the musical setting is George Dyson’s Evening Service in F major, and the anthem is Geistliche Leid by Johannes Brahms.
St Vincent's Chapel Stockbridge
ALL WELCOME
Admission Free, donations invited Tickets (optional) Fringe Box Office and Eventbrite
|
Festival Bookstall
Friday 19th August St Vincent's Chapel Stockbridge 
a selection of publications connected with Sacred Arts Festival 2022 events + books related to theology and the arts. 10% discount on all sales |
The Edinburgh Sacred Arts Foundation gratefully acknowledges generous financial support for the 2022 Festival from The Binks Trust The Heythrop Institute The William Syson Foundation The Vestry of St Vincent's Chapel Stockbridge |
Download a 2022 programme leaflet here!