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
Honorary Patron – Heather Cleobury
Steeple Aston Choral Society was founded by a former village Rector and is still going strong, more than four 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. Heather Cleobury, another professional musician and strong supporter of amateur music, is its patron.
The choir numbers around thirty singers and is happy to welcome new members. There are no auditions and singers do not need to read music fluently, so as long as they enjoy music-making and socialising, they may learn the music as they wish.
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.
For more details, contact Margaret Bulleyment, SACS Secretary – 01869 347346 or mtheb749@gmail.com
www.facebook.com/steepleastonchoralsociety
www.savh.org.uk (Regular Events)
SACS Concert Calendar 2025
Saturday, 8 February – Music for Pleasure 7.30pm – Village Hall
A relaxing evening with Paul Herrington (SACS) keyboard, Charmian Bartlett, cello and Brian Thomas, trumpet, who will be playing a wide variety of musical favourites. There will also be an opportunity to join in.
Tables available from 7.00pm (8 to a table.) Wine and nibbles will also be available. Tickets – £12 (under 16s free) from Margaret Bulleyment – mtheb749@gmail.com or 01869 347346 or from the village shop.
Sunday, 30 March – Spring Concert – 6.30 for 7.00pm – Village Hall
Ahoy there! Sail along to Steeple Aston Village Hall for a convivial evening of nautically inspired music including Stanford’s Songs of the Sea and Elgar’s Sea Pictures, followed by some sea shanties and other watery pieces for audience participation.
Table seating (8 to a table.) Bar and nibbles.
Saturday, 21 June – Summer Party Concert – 6.30 for 7.00pm – Village Hall
A jolly evening of medleys and sing-a-long. Come and sing your socks off with SACS!
Table seating (8 to a table.) Bar and nibbles.
Sunday, 23 November – Autumn Concert – 7.00pm – Church
Programme to be announced.
