Stoke Newington community rallies to save Old Church with all-day midsummer festival
A grassroots venue housed in an Elizabethan church in Stoke Newington is staging a day-long arts festival this month in a final push to fund the repairs needed to keep it open.
The Old Church was threatened with closure earlier this year after a wastage pipe collapsed, leaving the building facing a £30,000 repair bill. Since February, a campaign run entirely by local residents — under the slogan “take the strain off the drain” — has raised 75 per cent of that target.
On Sunday 14 June, from 10am to 10pm, organisers will mark the effort with a festival of arts, poetry, music and comedy, which they hope will raise the remaining funds. Daytime events are open to all ages on a donation basis, with the evening programme ticketed. All money raised will go towards the infrastructure repairs needed for the venue to continue operating as an accessible community space.
“The amount of love and support we have received over the last few months has been incredible to witness,” said Emily Bone, a local resident and chair of the board for The Old Church. “This is going to be a fantastic event, and we can’t wait to welcome visitors new and old to our wonderful venue.”
The day opens at 10am with a 70-minute workshop led by poet John Hegley, described as “eggs, legs, bees, knees and what we are grateful for”, with optional singing and one mandolin. Open to ages eight and over, it costs £15 and is limited to 24 places.
The rest of the daytime programme runs across the church and its grounds. Inside, there is musical storytelling for young children from Pelican Music, a chance to hear the church bells, a talk on myth and fantasy writing from authors Pil Van Martin and Susan Cahill, and a dance workshop for parents and children from Adrenalin Dance. Outside, Output Arts will run paper insect puppet-making sessions, while a programme of choirs and folk acts performs from 1pm on the green in front of St Mary’s Church, across the road — among them the London Sea Shanty Collective, the Wingit Singers, Bow and Bellows, and community choir Hackney Voices.
The ticketed evening programme costs £12, or £8 concession, with further donations welcomed. It begins at 5pm with a comedy bill compered by James Moss, followed by sets from poet Tim Wells, singer-songwriter Hannah Hu, Kay Elizabeth and klezmer band Beskydy. Five-piece covers band Purple Polyester, formed at Bridge Academy, close the live programme before resident DJ Elisa finishes the night at 9.30pm. Organisers note that the line-up may be subject to change.
The Old Church is a registered charity (no. 1200811).
The Midsummer Fundraiser Festival is at The Old Church, Stoke Newington, on Sunday 14 June, 10am–10pm. Tickets are available via Tickettailor and donations can be made through the venue’s Crowdfunder page.